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RURAL  SOCRATES ; 


O^ 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  A  CELEBRATED 


Philosophical  farmer. 


**SrATi^viJo^.-. 


LATELY    LIVING    Xi»    SWl^ZERLd^ty  ^*^' 


AN1> 


0tu9^9  >:^j> 


•M    i'^    1:.    ^J4e   is,    J^    1*^       •: 

K  L  I  Y  O  G  G. 


KNOWN  BY  THE  NAME  OF^;^  X_^^  ^ 


Seeft  ihou  a  man  diligent  in  bufinefs,  lie  (hall  ftand  before  kingi. 

Proverbs  xxii,  29* 
— — Spiritus  unos 
?er  cunilas  habitat  partes.  Manila  AfironMikon^  I.  IL 


y^^j^oit>p^^^rk^^      )m^ 


HAIiLOWELL    (district  op  maine) 

^pnted  hy  Pitbr  Edes;  and  fold  by  the  bookfelkrs  in  the  pnncip553 

towns  of  the  United  States, 


He  I 


115. 


'Ji.'U 


im 


CONTENT    S. 


PART  i. 

^i£i,  I,  KtijsgP*s  eriglfi^     HU  enif&nce  tfpen  hhfarin.     His  agflcuU 

iural  plaKSi  pare   i 

Seft.  n,  V\\\\o{oi;h\c  &uel  ^on-e^xo  particulars  in  hu  ckara^er^  4s 

S£(f^.  III.   Pnjeiis  for  iha  ad^anumertt  of  agriculture^  to  nxhich  Kli^ 
jogg  gave  rfe  in  she  Ri^-^h  >'  '■-'■  ^  '•->-  -  %z 


Si'ft.  I.   ^ffiiie:  ^'ffptai?!g  hio:  ,*  nj^iih  rheir  'infjierst  ^j 

St^.  il'  I'urvietjo  at  the  Helvetic  Society  b:tn.Veen  Prince  Louis 
Eu^eTtf  of  iVirtcmber^  and  Kh\  ogg,  1 1 3 

Se^.  til.  Pajticulars  concermvg  fhe  add -ionil  farm  cf  Kltyogg. 
rartbfr  accounts  veftifdivg  his  family*  Hii  hthnvior  at  the  nvtd- 
din^  of  his  fccr  nd  Jon^  1 2  J 

Scft«  IV,  Ucxv  'vifis  /.J  him.  AV-u;  liii-v^s  cf  his  htr/handry,  philofa. 
J>hyt  and  family  t      His  fecend  marriage^      His  laf  iilnefs)  Z40 

PART  ilL 

Sp(5h  T.   The  cehhrrJed^^ynrtr  u^fcrih-s  hift7i  l6'J 

Sedi.  II,    Ffffj  teftimonifs  concerninz  him.      Dijcvfjflrjn;  ttfpeclit^g   his 

preference  of  oxen  to  horjcr^  and  his  patriarchal  plan'st  1 74 

S^t\.  Ill,  Additional  particulars  in  kis  charatiet  and feniimcKts^  com' 

muf^icatcd  hy  a  cotrefpondtKt^  ;C9 

No.  I,  Mr,  Arthur  Yomtg's  preface  to  the  nmor},  5 
II,  Fragments  from  the  tranfathn:  cf  tki  Rural  ^JCfdic^i  omiiled 

i»  the  body  of  the  ivorki  31 

VJ.   Another  fvagmiJiCt  V 

IV,   Jxothert  v! 

Vv.   H<rKdrs  paid  to  agricuhure  in  certain  Eaftern  countries^  vii 

VL  'Smf  l>ari'(ul<irs  ^^Jpf:^iing  Chir.vfe  trgricKiltHrst  y.l 


PREFACE. 

THE  editor  of  the  prefent  memoirs  vifited  Switzerland  nine  years  af  • 
icr  the  death  of  Kliyogg,  and  fa\y  many  whj  had  known  him. 
The  famed  Livater,  M.  TchifFelli  (rhe  chief  inftimtor  of  the  celebrated 
Economical  Society  of  Berne,)  the  feventy  n^erobers  oi  the.Philofophical 
Society  of  Zurich,  and  the  feveral  hundred  members  of  the  Helvetic  So- 
ciety, with  the  father  of  rhe  tv/o  Mirabe.ius,  Count  Treffan,  and  Mr.  Ar- 
thur Young  ;  are  additional  vouchers  to  the  public,  for  the  exigence  or 
for  the  nrierits  of  the  fuHjeft  of  the  prefent  hiftory.  If  the  great  New  too 
eame  from  the  clafs  of  fmall  landed  proprietors  ;  if  the  fagacious  Franklin 
began  by  being  a  mechanic  ;  and  (to  hy  nothing  of  Shakcfpear  and  a 
crowd  of  others)  if  the  Engiifti  Brindley,  the  Scotch  Fergufon,  and  the 
German  Duval  and  Ludwig,  fprang  frum  the  loweli  clafs  of  peafants  5 
why  (hall  wc  doubt  the  reality  of  a  Kliyogg  ?  Unaflifted  nature  can  pro- 
duce perfonages  as  extraordinary,  as  ihofe  fometimes  arifing  under  erre- 
neous  fyftcms  of  education. — The  charafter  then  here  reprefehted  is  not 
feigned  ;  and  yet  it  is  as  proper  for  contemplation,  as  if  it  had  been  ia- 
vented  ;  for  even  the  faults  of  Kliyogg  arc  inftrui^iveo 

The  only  point  artificial  about  Kliyogg  is  his  name.  Though  furratn- 
ed  Gouycr,  andchriftened  Jame^,  he  was  by  his  countrymen  called  Klein- 
jogg  ;  which  is  Ger.-nan  for  Liule  James  ;  (the  German  for  James  being 
taken  from  the  Latin  'Jacohus,)  When  writing  in  French  they  l>y  turns 
however  ftyie  Hiiti  Kleinjogg,  Kliyogg,  Klyiogg,  and  Klyogg.  As  fuch 
ciiverfiry  prevails  among  his  countrymen,  when  defcribing  him  in  a  foreigt^ 
language,  a  liberty  in  iavorof  fimplicity  ought  perhaps  to  have  been  ufed 
in  the  prefent  work  in  Englilh,  by  calling  him  Kliog  or  Klyog, 

Dr.  Hirzel,  who  firil  made  known  this  perfon  to  the  public,  wrote  in 
German  ;  which  is  ihe  language  of  the  largeft  portion  of  Switzerland.  He 
was  by  office,  firfl:  phyfician  to  the  Republic  of  Zurich,  a  member  of  its 
Council,  and  occafionally  Secretary  to  its  Senate.  His  accounts  were 
publifl-ied  at  difTerenr  periods,  in  proportion  as  the  life  of  Kliyogg  furniili- 
cd  the  materials. — The  principal  of  thefe  accounts  were  gradually  tranfl.i- 
ted  into  French  by  a  friend  of  the  prefent  edicor,  a  native  of  Bafie  ;  who 
had  a  majority  in  a  Swifs  regiment  in  the  pay  of  France,  with  the  rank  of 
LieurenaritColoncI.  Mr.  Arthur  Young,^  fince  honorably  known  by  his 
publications,  and  lately  made  Secretary  to  the  Englilh  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture ;  flruck  with  the  firll  part  of  the  French  publication,  procured  for  it 
an  EnghJ^y  drefs  ;  atid  anriexed  it  to  one  of  his  own  works ;  adding  the 
preface  given  in  our  appendix,  wiih  the  notes  ftill  icraiued  in  their  pla- 
ces.—Mr.  Young's  own  work,  and  a /«?■/  of  the  Englifh  trannaiionip 
were  reprinted  in  New-'erfey  in  America,  in  171^2. 

The  Englilh  franfl,.uon  pu'  lilhed  under  the  liircdion  of  Mr.  Young, 

h  nonainally  adopted  liere  for  the  pari  to  which  it  reb:e«.     It  required^ 

'  '  and ' 


PREFACE.  V 

artid  has  received,  corre^ions  in  every  line.  Yet  fince  marr  faults  hav® 
fceen  ftill  left  in  it,  and  fome  have  even  been  introduced  in  confeqoenr« 
of  an  internriixture  of  ftyles ;  a  new  rranflation  would  have  been  more  fa- 
tisfaffiory,  and  cercainly  more  eafy  ;  but  the  couviciion  of  this  occurred 
too  late. 

The  prefent  compilation  offers  only  one  original  article,  befides  a  fensr 
notes  ;  but  it  is  as  full  of  hiftorical  raafter  as  the  German  e<Htion,  and  far 
left  digreilive  ;  it  is  con  titter  ably  more  cotrplete  alfo  ihan  the  French  edi- 
tion ;  and  twice  as  extenfi^^e  in  ifs  effiutial  parts  as  the  Engilih.  — It  has 
obtained  thefe  advant-iges  by  the  privilege  of  rejeding  or  feledling  from 
each  at  pleafure. — The  liberties  taken  uith  the  German  and  Frencii 
works,  have  bten  purfuant  to  a  fpecial  authority  for  the  purpcfe,  given  by 
their  refped^ive  authors.  The  liberality  of  Mr.  Young  alfo  will  not  al- 
low him  to  complain  of  the  reform  macle  in  the  Englilb  trar:{lation  ;  fines 
he  is  intere^ed  iu  it  by  his  zeal  for  the  public  benefit  alone,  and  not  by 
his  perfonal  feelings. 

The  compilation  here  ^fFsred  to  notice,  profeffes  not  to  be  an  original 
work.  It  exhibits  therefore  (different  fpealiers,  and  at  different  periods; 
but  the  differences  are  made  fufficienily  diftinguiGiablc, 

It  may  be  proper  to  Rate  here,  that  the  Philofophical  Society  of  Za- 
fJch  fia  Societe  de  phjjiqne)  above  referred  to,  which  took  great  intereft 
in  Kliyogg  ;  had  for  its  objedb,  natural  philofophy,  its  application  to 
common  life,  mathematics,  natural  hiliory,  and  medicine. — *♦  Its  firft  ro- 

*  laooe  (fays  the  Swifs  author  of  our  French  tranflation,)  contained  thir- 

*  teen  memoirs,  of  which  feven  regarded  agriculture  foleiy.  Dr.  Hirzel's 
<  firft  account  of  Kliyogg  formed  one  of  thefe  articles ;  *  *  *  and  produced 

*  excellent  efFefti.     A  number  of  the  clergy  recommended  it  from  the 

*  pulpit  to  their  congregation?.     I  can  teftify  (adds  the  writer  who  lived 

*  within  twenty  leagues  of  Zurich,)  that  the  work  even  to  its  fmalleft  par- 

*  ticulars,  was  founded  in  the  moft  perfect  truth," 

As  to  the  Helvetic  Society,  it  will  be  made  fufHciently  mcHiO'rxjble  ir* 
the  courfe  of  the  following  pages. 

Something  mufl:  now  b^  faid  refpe^ingthe  title  of  the  Rural  Soerafe*, 
fLeSoerate  Rujliqt/e^)  by  which  Kliyogg  has  been  characfierized. — The 
amiable  author  of  the  French  tranflation  claims  the  merit  of  inventing 
this  title  ;  and  Dr.  Hirzel  confirms  his  pretenfians.  The  editor  indeed 
has  fome  where  feen  the  appellation  in  Vcltaire,  but  this  author  proba- 
bly only  borrowed  it  allofivcly  trom  the  French  tranflation. 

Socrates^  the  antlenf  Greek  philofopher,  was  criginaJty  a  ^atuary  \ 
yet  he  improved  the  Athenians  in  their  ideas  of  mor^Ury  and  divinity. 
He  may  even  be  confidereJ  as  having  it^fiuenced  the  faith  of  rrany  Chritir-- 
ians,  fince  he  was  the  mafter  of  Plato,  whofe  difclples  in  the  church  of 
Chrift  have  been  numerous  and  important.  Socrates  pcfTesTed  aifo  « 
mode  of  inculcating  his  precept?,  finee  called  Socratic,  which  appeared  s? 
Angular  to  his  cotemporaries  as  were  his  doLirines.-— Among  the  varioa.i 
Interefling  views  of  the  life  and  ccsverfauon   oi  Socrates  lo  be  foar.i 


vi  r      K      E      F      A      C      E- 

among  tl'C  modetna,  pcihaps  none  will  appear  more  ftiiking  (o   ferioas 

jninds,  than  the  following  by  ihe   refpdtable  Pr.  Law,  bifliop  of  Carhfle, 

*  There  was  a  vvoudrous  u^a.j  (fays  ihe  l.illiop)  among  the  Greeks^  w  ho 

*  has  often  bicen  coTiparetl  to  Chrifi^  a.i.1  confiticred  as  a  kinti  of  /j»^*  of 

*  him  to  ihe  heathen  ;  ther.!  fceiag  a  great  rereiubbncc  bstvt-een  them  ia 
'  fome  rerrarkable  particula/s.     Hccraut  lays  cut    all  his  time  in  going 

*  about  to  admoniOiand  reform  hh  counfiyiaen  ;  which  lie  siTures  ihcm 

*  was  a  miniflry  enjoinedXAa^hy  the  Deity,  for  their  hensfit,  to  whom  he 

*  furpofcs  \X\\jXt\\  gyvtn  ot/.'Kt  by  Go<i  :  with  tlie  uinioft  fiffanefs,  beat- 

*  ing  ail  the  injuiiea  and  defpifing  theaitront?;,  to  which  he  was  continual- 
«  ]y  expofed  on  that  accour.r.     He  conftaatly  reforts  to  places  of  public 

*  concoijrfe,  ar.d  gcrjcraily    grounds  hi';  difLOurfes  on  what  occurs  there  5 

*  tn^jking  ule  of  ^\try  place,  ^nd  reafon,  arsJ  occaGon,  to  exetcife  and   in- 

*  culcate  his  philofophy.     He  choofes  a  Hate  of  poverty  ;  to  clear  himfelf 

*  fiom  all  Aifpiciou  of  pri^'ate  inferefr,  and  mai:e  his  charaftcr  more  unex- 

*  ccprionablc,  by  (he'AJng  that  I:c  pradifed  vvliat  he  taught.     He  avoiils 

*  fTjeddling  H'iiii  the  aftai  rs  oi    the  public;  decHnas    poils  of  authority 
*■  amongft  ti'.eai  ;  as  thcfc,  in  fiith  bad  times,  mud  have  preripiiated  hi3 

*  fs:c,  beJore  h'j  had  done  them  any  confikralle  fcrvice.     He  pcrfsveres 
'  in  filling  and  examining  them,  in  oidei  to  dctfft  their  ignorance  and 

*  prefurr^piion  and  to  morjjf/  thgir  pride,  on  all  occafions ;  and  declares 

*  that  he  ir.ovi  perfcvveie  i  1  the  farvje  couyfe,  even  when  he  dearly  forefawr 

*  that  the  iofs  of  hJs  lift  v^oold  certainly  attend  it  :  nay,  that  he  would 

*  continue  this  eoaife,  though  lit  were  to  die  ever  fo  often  Jor  it.     When 
"  merely  out  o^  cni->j  he  h  delivered  np  to  Vh  eiieroies,  and  on  a  raoft  ma- 

*  Itcious  piof'.!cut!On  brought   to  his  trial ;  iRiie?.d  of  having  rccourfe  to 

*  the  ufua!  wp!y  cf  fuppijcation,  and  applying  to  the  pafilons  ol  his  judges  ; 

*  he  proves  to,  thcai,  th?t  \)\zy  ought  not  to  av5rrjit  of  any  fuch  application  ; 

*  he  infoi.Tis  their  reafon,  and  appeals  to  their  confcience  ;  and  proceeds 

*  ordy  (b  ht  in  his  o  vn  defence,  as  would  be  juft  fufficient  to  aflert  his 

*  inr^ocence  and  (hew  thitn   the  greatyfa  of  perfecuting  and  opprclling  it.. 
<  Inftead  cf  ufing  or  permitting  any  ether  means  to  avoid  his  death,  he? 

*  HgniHes  that  it  was  free  and   voluntary  in    him,  beca^ifc  it  was  become 

*  ieceir^ry  for  the  world  4  and  meets  the   inftruments  thereof  with   the 

*  orm';il  calnrjncfs  and  fercr.ity. 

'  He  left  none  oi  his  philofophy  in  writing,  but  tovok  good  care,  as  he 
^  frilui  to  imprint  it  deeply  \\\  the  hearts  ot  hi'.  <lifciples  ;  which  fome  of 
'  thea)  delivered  down  to  us  ;   (though  in   a  manner   very  different  from 

*  that  fiao;  !i<  ity,  and  Hii^    proptiety,  wi.h  which  the  gofpels  are  recotd- 

*  ed  ;}  and,  indeed,  ihe  cfteds  which  his  io,(lru6tionsj  and  exatnples,  had 

*  upon  theiin,  were  protligiuui*,' 

Such 


"  Sec  ihe  rrfl^rtlons  on  tije  iilt'  atid  thaTa«ner  of  Chiiit,  Itund  vp 
n.oith  this  auth'j/s  Theory  of  Religion,— ^''^e?  bi/?Jop  has  omitted  to  mention, 
ihnt  Socratts  rt-jt^ed  an  cpparlunity  ef  ejcaping  ftcm  prijon  ;  and  took  hi:f 
poifon  <n)iib  caltn'ifj'sy  'ij^ithQut  re^Mmg  h\^  ferjniiton  far  the  ifjutj  d&ne  /* 


P      R      E      F      A      C      £.  nl 

Such  IS  the  p^clurc  of  Socrates ;  and  it  may  be  afked,  wherein  Kliyogg 
ycfembles  him  ?-~Their  charaifleis  certainly  diiTcr  much  5  yet  in  much 
do  they  coirer^oRd, 

The  underftanding  of  KHyogg  was  indeed  lefs  tl^jvated  and  diverfified 
than  that  of  Socrates,  but  many  will  thirlk  it  equally  nervous  and  corredi. 
If  Socrates  was  the  inventor  of  various  new  opiiiioi,:-jKliyogg  was  the  author 
of  feveralnew  pradicc?.  Socrates  attCinpted  to  purgR  jhe  notion  of  a  Deity 
from  pagan  groffnefs ;  and  Kliyogg  preferved  it  difentang!«d  from  hypa. 
critical  forms  and  from  fanaticifoi.  KHyogg  poffefled,  like  Socrates,  pe- 
culiar talents  for  difcQurfe ;  and  like  hiro,  had  for  his  adnrsirers,  various 
perfons  high  in  the  conduct  of  affairs,  and  many  of  the  learned  and  jx)litr. 
Each  fhunned  public  olTicesfrorn  motives  alike  j'j ft iHable.  For  indqjen" 
dencc  of  mtnd  and  for  infleKlLility  of  character,  each  raay  be  confidcred 
as  raodcls.  Socrates  was  heroic  in  cle  fiel-l  of  battle",  magoanimooa 
with  his  perfecutors,  and  ferene  before  his  judges.  KHyogg  nM  only  re- 
fiflcd  popular  clamors  which  fo  often  mi»ke  the  brave  rrernblc,  and  prac- 
tifed  generofity  towards  his  iLmdercrs ;  but  refalotely  furroounted  almofi 
every  internal  infirmity  and  every  external  diScuIcy,  Socrates  com- 
mended the  diligent,  which  was  all  that  his  fjtuatioa  demanded  ;  bat  KH- 
yogg prad^iced  hitijfelf  a  fevcre  diligeace,  till  by  habit  he  had  rendered  is 
pleafanr,  Esch  according  to  the  extent  ci  his  views,  H-jdied  the  influ- 
fincc  and  bearings  of  every  incident  upon  the  human  mhid.  Socratea 
alone  of  the  tvvo  c on tefii plated  the  political  intcreRs  of  man  ;  but  Kiiycgg 
equalled  kina  in  an  atlection  to  man  in  his  fecial,  domeftic,  and  individual 
chara^ers.  Socrates  fought  to  render  benevolence  and  kaowledgs  v.nu 
verfal ;  but  Kliyogg  being  fatisfied  with  hh  own  benevolence  and  being 
more  than  dubious  2I  to  the  advantage  of  reading,  was  content  with 
tnforcing  a  love  of  induui}',  esori0n:.y,  utilitjj-,  and  order. 

But  in  juftifying  the  analogy  eflablivhed  ber>veen  the  charasf^ers  of  So« 
crates  and  KHyogg,  we  miift  not  be  thought  to  piace  ihem  upon  an  equa- 
lity. The  one  labored  for  the  hiunan  race,  prcfeat  and  future ;  the  of.hcr 
for  himfelf,  hia  family,  and  ira.ricOiate  neighborhood.  The  one  \v,i3  an 
enlightened  teacher  of  philofophers ;  and  the  otl.er,  a  felf-taUght  ruf>v% 
The  one  gave  precept  and  eKatnple  ;  and  ih;  other,  chieSy  exarripl?.  We 
are-  explicitly  and  pointedly  iaRruifled  by  the  one,  ?.nd  we  muft  ga« 
thcr  ioftru^ion  for  ourfelvea  from  the  other.  But  each  in  bis  turn  may 
be  ufefol  ;  and  Kh'yogg,  for  cur  time  and  for  ilie  many,  fi:>3y  even  be 
the  moft  ufefuU  It  cannot  belong  to  every  one  to  legillate  f.-r  the  human 
lacc,  like  a  Socrates  or  a  Confucius ;  but  eve?y  one  has  a  private  ftatioB 
to  fulfil ;  and,  if  he  is  difpofed  to  fulSI  it  wcllj  he  may  profit  by  the  hifto- 
zy  of  a  KHyogg. 

We 

*  fFfjea  Alcihiades  tuaf  ivounded  and  a  prifoner,  Socrates  nfcued  him  J 
^Vihen  Xenophcn  ivas  di/mounted  avdfutigued  hi  a  rtlreaty  Socrates  c/irried 
him  off  upon  his  Jhouldcrs,  Secretes  hgd  hih  theft  ir€;;iirahti  rmifor  hii 
^upiU^  find  the  hji  for  hi:  hifiorian^ 


fiii  r      R      E      F      A      C      r. 

Wd  have  intlfnated  th.it  KHyogg  was  little  friendly  lo  learning.— He 
did  not  diftinguilh,  it  feems,  between  knowledge  and  learning,  between 
books  ufefol  and  not  ufeful.  Among  vegetable?,  fome  are  ferviceable, 
fame  indifferent,  fome  noxious  ;  but  Kli>oggi  as  a  farruer,  certainly  would 
not  have  rejeded  the  ufe  of  the  gifts  ot  nature,  becaufe  of  this  mixture  in 
them.  In  viewing  an  extenfive  library,  a  better  inftruGed  man  than  Kli- 
yogg  iTiight  exclaim,  **  how  many  of  thefe  things  do  I  not  want  !"  but 
even  a  cafe  like  this  leads  to  no  ©ther  conclufion,  than  that  good  books  re- 
quire to  be  ftlefted,  and  their  nuiiber  to  be  increafed. — Though  many 
fermoos  for  exannpie,  have  been  primed  in  diSerent  countries,  which  are 
of  little  ufe  in  faniilics  ;  it  does  not  follow  that  fets  of  family  fermons,  in- 
tercfting  hy  their  matter  and  couched  in  forcible  houfhold  languagCi  fo  as 
to  fuit  at  once  both  children  and  domeftics,  as  well  as  the  heads  of 
families,  would  not  be  ferviceable.  Kllyogg,  like  other  men  of  limited 
education,  had  his  rrind  too  much  fixed  on  fi  igle  points,  He  fergot  that 
idle  hour?  neceHariiy  occur  through  ieifure,  through  ficknefs,  and  through 
^ge,  which  req^jirc  to  be  filled  up  ;  that  all  farmers  have  not  a  mind  as  ori- 
ginal as  his  own,  and  requiring  as  little  inilru^lion  j  that  if  bad  books  are 
ihe  vvritten  fpeech  of  the  foclith,  good  books  are  the  written  fpeech  of  the 
wife,  which  all  perfons  are  tlius  permitted  to  read  and  to  confider  at  Iei- 
fure ;  and  that  there  is  no  better  tie  to  our  homes,  and  to  a  domeftic  and  a 
fobar  life,  than  books,  of  which  unfortunately  the  number  is  too  fmall, 
lather  than  too  gre^t. 

Let  us  employ  the  inftance  of  Kllyogg  againft  himfelf.  Had  Kliyogg 
wade  an  occafiona!  ufe  of  books,  he  might  perhaps  have  fnunned  the  dan- 
ger of  drinking  ;into  which  he  for  a  time  fell,  when  he  firft  planted  his  own 
vineyard.  He  might  alfo  have  borne  with  more  refignation  and  dignity 
lU8  la{^  iHnefb  ;  for  experience  (hews,  that  no  better  fupport  is  to  be  found 
on  thefe  occdfions,  than  religion  and  reading.  If  his  prejudices  againft 
books  were  juft,  even  the  account  of  his  own  life  would  be  fupprefTcd, 
and  the  benefit  of  his  own  example  thus  be  loft  to  the  world. 

Kliyogg  perhaps  had  no  opportunity  to  fee  good  books  3  and  therefore 
itiighc  have  been  excufed,  had  he  condsmned  the  majority  of  books, 
or  had  he  reproved  tlw  dearth  of  good  books  for  perfons  in  inferior  iitua* 
lions,  as  well  at  ccnfured  the  ititewpaate  ufe  of  reading. — But  to  arraign 
attention  to  all  written  knowledge,  is  in  effe^  among  the  reft  to  arraign 
attention  to  a  knowledge  of  nature  ;  which  is  indeed  one  of  the  mofl  im- 
portant branchi^s  of  fcience.  Whoever  truly  pofTefTes  this,  has  ftored  tip  a 
bleifing  :  (  Ttlix  qui potuit  rerum  cegnofeere  cevjui :)  for  nothing  then  paff. 
e8»  which  does  not  carry  an  intereft  with  it.  In  fhorr,  whatever  the  rich 
and  the  ambitious  may  think,  obfervation  wijl  afcertsin,  that  where  out- 
ward circumllat:ce9  do  not  trouble,  he  is  the  happieft  of  men  who  has  a 
labcripg  hand,  a  thinking  head,  and  a  feeling  heart. 

Kliyogg's  aveifnn  to  hypocricy  and  oftentation  in  religion,  comes  next 
for  explanation. — lo  Zurich,  an  antient  and  very  Ori^i^  fe6^  prevails  5 
which  has  encouraged  many  to  affed  great  zeal  for  the  outward  forms  ot 
itligion,   Kliyogg,  a  pious  wan,  who  read  at  Vfa(t  one  ^o^i;  his  bible,  daily 

an^i 


PREFACE.  ife 

and  much  ;  conceived  that  a  Pharlfce  under  Chrif^,  was  fiill  woife  than  a 
Phaiifce  under  Mofes.  He  oppofed  then  ihcfe  modern  Pharifees  ;  and 
had  for  it  the  authority  of  his  mailer  Jefus,  who  thus  attacked  the  Phari-* 
fees  of  old. — *  Do  not  ye  after  the  works  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharifees,  fot 

<  they  Jay  and  do  nor.     For  they  bind  heavy  burdens  and  grievous  to  be 

<  borne,  and  Uy  them  on  men's  (boulders  ;  but  they  therafclves  will    not 

*  rr.ove  them  with  one  of  their  fingers.    But  all  their  works  they  do  for  to 

*  htfeen  of  men* — And  again,  <  Two  men  went  up  into  the  temple  to 

<  pray  ;  the  one  a  Pharifee  and  the  other  a  Publican.    The  Pharifee  flood 

*  and  prayed  thus  with  himfelf :  "God  I  thank  thee,  that  I  am  not  as 
*'  other  men  arc  ;  extortioners,  unjuft,  adulterous ;  or  even  as  this  Publi- 
**  can  :  I  fall  twice  in  the  week  ;  I  give  tithes  of  all  I  poflefs.**     And  the 

*  Publican,  Handing  afar  ofF,  would  not  lift  fo  mnch  as  his  eyes  unto  hea- 

<  yen,  but  fmote  upon  his  bread,  faying,  *♦  God  be  merciful  unto  me  a  fin 
«  ner."  I  tell  you,  this  raaa  went  down  to  his  houfe  juftified,  rather  ihan^ 

<  the  other.* — And  again  more  pointedly  :  *  Not  every  one  ihat/zi//)  un- 

<  to  me,  Lardi  Lord,  Ihall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  but  he  that 

*  doeth  the  will  of  my  father  which  is  in  heaven.     Many  will  fay  to  roe 

*  in  that  day  :  **  Lord,  Lordy  have  we  not  prophefied  in  thy  name  ?  and 
*'  in  thy  name  have  call  out  devils  ?  and  in  thy  name  done  many  wonder-: 
<•  ful  works  V*  And  then  will  I  profefs   unto  ihem,    *  I  never  knew  ye  s 

*  depart  from  me,  ye  thatwcr^  iniquity*'^. — Kliyogg,  in  ailing  under  im- 
prellions  like  thefe,  deferved  the  thanks  of  the  clergy  ;  and  we  find  that  he 
received  them.  It  was  tn(y  to  be  a  friend  to  religion,  without  being 
friendly  to  thofe  who  debafed  and  made  a  mall;  of  it. 

The  indudry  of  Ktiyogg  rofe  peihaps  beyond  the  necefiary  ftandard  - 
finee  few  can  propofe  to  themfelves  to  purfue  only  one  occupaipn  or  to 
poflefs  only  one  amufement,  namely  that  of  bodily  labor.  Kliyogg's 
thirft  for  fuch  labor  was  incelTant  and  implacable,  and  ifsefftfls  bore  down 
every  thing  before  it.     It  was  the  piecife  iliuftraiion  of  Virgil's   *  Labor 

*  om7iia*vi»cJt  Im/>rohus.*-"But  if  everyone  cannot  attain  to  Kliyogg'a 
paffion  for  fuch  induftry,  (of  which  however  he  fucceeded  in  infufing  a 
portion  into  his  family  ;)  yet  at  leaft  the  powers  of  thi'j  cieaiive  quality 
have  become  fufiiciently  raanifeft  in  his  hands,  to  make  ftrenuous  and  Hea- 
dy exertions  appear  in  the  light  of  a  profitable  duty.-. It  muft  be  obfetved 
here,  that  the  induftry  of  Kliyogg  was  accompanied  with  judgn^enr,  (yi. 
tern,  and  economy  ;   and  operated  through  a  long  period  of  time. 

Without  going  through  the  whole  of  Kliyogg's  perfuafions  in  the  con- 
duct of  his  lifeand  of  his  family,  let  it  be  obferved  once  for  all,  that  it  is 
neither  pretended  here  to  recommend  his  example,  nor  even  to  vindicate 
him  from  cenfure,  in  every  particular.— The  variety  which  occurs  in  the 
fituationa  of  mankind,  form  likewife  a  new  xeafoDj  fot  leaving  the  chiet^ 

b 

*  Set  Matthc-jj  xxiii.  3— «:  ;  Luie  xviii,  19—13  ;   tt^JMaithcrQ  v^^ 


5  P      R      E      F      A      C      F« 

of  his  fyftems  to  ihe  quiet  comment  of  the  reader.  Whatever  was  rightl'T' 
thefe,  was  right  by  the  force  of  his  reajon  ;  but  we  rauft  not  conceire  that 
be  was  therefore  reaJov.ahU  in  all  things* 

The  faraereferve  will  be  applied  to  the  chief  of  Kliyogg's  farming  ideas; 
for  it  is  not  prcpofed  here  to  prefent  a  complete  farming  fyftem,  but  only 
to  rehte  the  proceedings  of  an  individual  farmer. 

One  of  the  agricultural  ideas  of  Kliyogg  will  alone  be  noticed  as  bear- 
3  ;j  a  particular  relation  to  the  fituation  of  agriculture  in  the  United 
States.— Kiiyorig  thought  that  a  fmall  farm  well  cultivated,  is  more  pro- 
iUifiive  and  more  profitable,  than  a  large  farm  ill  cultivated.— He  appears 
in  this  to  hare  formed  ajull  decifion.  A  large  landed  property  kept  un- 
der cultivation,  implies  a  large  inveftment  oi  capital  in  the  foil,  large  tax- 
es, large  fences,  and  large  ploughing*  ;  fuch  a  property  is  not  eafily  trav- 
elled over  by  th;  proprietor,  by  his  laborers,  or  by  his  teams ;  it  is  more 
diflfhxih  to  infpei^  it  from  the  farmhoufe  by  the  eye;  more  impraflicable 
to  prote<^  it  from  robbery  and  inroads ;  it  demands  more  attendants,  and 
more  feed  %  when  it  becomes  likewife  the  common  fyllem  of  others  in  the 
counfry,  it  will  be  found,  frocn  the  Kirgc  fize  of  each  farm,  that  the  rr^irkct, 
the  church,  the  neighbor,  and  (he  artifan's  (hop,  mud  each  in  cfFt«f\  bo 
thrown  at  a  gjeatcr  diftaoce  ;  roads  alfo  becoming  longer,  rauft  thence  be 
kept  in  worfe  repair ;  ihe  country  will  be  found  Tcfs  populous  within  the 
fame  extent  ;  nnd  negligent  habits  will  too  certainly  prevail  in  every 
ihir.p:,  which  utli  in  time  f«^Jze  even  the  moral  character  of  the  cultivator. 

Hit  be  faid,  th«t  in  the  TJniied  States  each  cultivator  has  to  provide  for 
a  growioa  family,  as  well  as  to  ir.ake  a  Inge  refcrvc  of  woodland  for  fuel, 
the  plea  flial!  be  allowed,  and  with  it  a  comparatively  large  pofTeffion  ; 
but  the  conchifion  does  not  follow,  that  the  principal  cuUvvatien  of  the 
farmer  GDght  to  he  extended  beyoml  a  fiiiall  portion  of  this  very  land."« 
The  monopoljH  will  not  the  lefs  readily  convert  his  lands  into  cafih,  under 
fuch  a  fydcm  ;  for  \{  contratis  are  eafily  made  for  large  trails  of  land, 
fmall  tra(5t»  aic  thofe  which  raoft  readily  command  z  proTnpt  pr.yment ; 
and  when  the  fanner  has  become  thriving,  he  can  then  eafily  extend  his 
purchdfes  to  the  fatisf-^^ion  of  the  proprietor. 

The  elder  PrufcflTor  Martyn  of  Cambridge  in  England,  has  a  fenfible 
note  in  his  edition  of  Virgil,  upon  the  maxim  as  applied  to  vines,  of  Law, 
data  ingsvtia  rura  :  Exiguum  colito  :  (Praife  large  farms,  but  cultivate  fmall 
ones.)     He  obferves,  ♦  This  is  an  imitation  of  a  verie  of  Hefiod,     The 

<  meaning  of  the  poet  feems  to  be,  that  ycu  may  admire  the  fplendor  of  a 
'  large  vineyard,  but  \\viX  }  ou  had  better  cultivate  a  fmall  one  ;  becaufe 
»  the  labor  of  cultivating  tines  isfo  great,  that  the  roafter  cannot  extend 
«  his  care  of  a  very  Inge  fpot  of  ground.-  Columella  relates  a  iloiy  from 

*  Groccinua,  in  confirmation  of  «his.     A  m«n  had  two  daughters,    and  a 

*  large  vineyard,  ot  which  he  gave  a  third  part  with  the  el>leil  daughter  is 

*  luarii.igc  :  and  yet  lie  gathered  as  much  fruit,  as  he  did  before,     After- 

<  wards  he  married  the  younger  daughter,  with  another  third  for  her  pur- 

*  tion,  and  flill  fonnd  that  his  remaining  third  part  produced  as  much  as  the 
»  whclc  had  done  :  N'vhich  could  arife  iiiio^  no  ether  caufe,  ihaa  that  h*3 


E      F 


Jvi 


<W39  able  to  cultivate  a  third  p«rt  belter  than  ihe  v^hole  vineyard 
'  before  it  was  divided.  *  *  Columella  mentions  this  precept  ofVii- 
*gil  with  great  commenJatlon,  an.i  fays   it  was  taken  (rom  a  faying  of 

*  one  of  the  feven  wife  roen,  [m.'iron  orijion']  ;  and  ir  was  a  proverb  of  the 
<  Carth«>ginians,    that   a  field  ought  to   be   ^weaker  than  the  hujlandman. 

*  Columella  adds,  that,  aher  the  expulficn  of  :he  kings,  feven  acres  was  ihe 

*  allowance  to  each  perfon,  iiom  which  they  derived  more  profit,  than  they 

*  did  in  his  time  from  large  plantations.*— -5^?  Dr,  Martja's  Edition  of  the 
Georgicsi  book  2, /.  41 2---4i3.-*-The  reafoning  in  this  note  applies  to 
other  farms,  as  well  as  to  vineyards ;  provided  the  labor  on  the  farm  is 
increafed  at  the  fame  time  that  the  farm  is  divided.  Cut  if  a  large  fdf.n 
is  kept,  as  it  often  is  in  the  United  States,  with  little  or  no  attention  ;  and  it 
the  parts  are  treated  in  like  raanner,upon  being  divided  ;the  parts  will  not 
profper  for  being  feparated  ;  and  this  will  net  be  found  one  of  the  caf<;s  ta 
which   the  proverb  applies,  that  the  half  is  better  than  the 'whole. 

That  cultivation  indeed  in  the  United  States  fufFers  from  the  high 
prices  of  labor  and  other  circumftances,  is  well  known;  but  it  is  equally 
certain  that  it  is  favored  by  the  land  being  cheap  and  by  the  taxes  being 
low,  2s  well  as  by  the  freedom  of  the  governmerir.  The  woods  toa  i.- 
bound  with  the  means  of  making  manure,  after  the  mannei  fuggeficd  by 
ICliyogg  ;  as  likewife  with  a  fubftltute  for  comnion  fodder,  liuh  as  h.-i? 
been  ufed  by  many  fartners,  antient  and  modern*. 

Little  more  remains  to  be  fdid  here  of  Kliyogg. — If  he  bad  fau!j?,  as 
well  as  virtues,  the  virtues  largely  predominated  ;  and  his  faults  werefojre- 
tiroes  even  occafioned  by  his  virtues.  The  latter  may  however  be  for- 
given, not  only  as  he  was  hun[>an,  and  hitfffelf  candid  to  the  faults  cf 
others ;  but  as  he  wanted  the  help  of  exa-rples,  of  advifers,  and  cf  book  , 
to  perfedl  hira.  It  will  be  chiefly  important  however  to  think  of  his  ex- 
cellencies J  which  were  numerous,  important,  and  often  uncommon.  And 
i"urely  we  may  pardon  much  to  a  man,  who  formed  his  charadier  by  the 
powetr  ci  his  rcafon  ;  who  raifed  his  forfune  by  the  merit  of  his  condo(^ ; 
who  being  uncorrupted  by  fLztitxy  and  profpeiif}',  rennaincd  to  the  lafl 
what  he  was  in  the  beginning;  who  prcfcribed  nothing  to  others,  to  which 
he  did  not  firit  hixfelf  fabinitj  who  h  vedthe  poor,  and  was  hof;ored  by 
the  rich  ;  who  was  a  difmteiefted  friend  to  the  public  ;  and  to  public  im- 
prcvements  ;  who  examined  the  tendency  of  every  acfion,  and  never  did 
a  thing  which  was  not  founded  on  fome  well-deliberated  principle  ;  who 
was  a  Chriftian  after  the  manner  of  Jefus,  that  if,  abounding  in  chari  - 
ty  and  good  works  j  and  finally  died  at  a  good  old  age,  bequeathing  tc 
the  latelf  pofterity,  an  example  of  profeffional  n^ill,  undaunted  perfever- 
ance,  perfonal  worth,  civic  viiiue,  and  a  religion  copied  from  ihe  words 
ofChrift. 

A  few  particulats  ftill  remain  to  be  told  to  the  reader  refpefling  the 
work  before  him.  -     The 

*  That  ist  lea'vei  end  tnjulgSj  eaten  by  ths  cattle  drj\  See  Mfa  Teung* : 
AnmVs  of  /Igriculture^^KA,    i,   t^  207. 


xu 


R      E      F     A 


The  notes  tcrminatfd  by  the  letter  F,  arc  taken  from  the  French  trani^- 
latlon  ;  ihofe  by  the  letter  Y,  are  Mr.  Young's  ;  and  thofc  by  ihe  lettet 
E,  are  new  ones  added  to  the  prefent  edition. 

The  denominations  of  money  ufed,  are  generally  Englifh,  (or  fterling)  j 
j»nd  the  amounts  exprelTed  are  generally  copied  from  the  Englilh  tranlla. 
lion  published  by  Mr.  Young,  without  any  examination. 

T  he  word  hoijeau  has  been  traollated  hujhel ;  and  perhaps  it  has  the 
fjme  origin  in  point  ol  etymology;  but  no  dependence  can  be  placed  on 
itsTcprefenting  the  fame  nieafure  as  the  Wincheftcr  bulhel  of  England. 
In  truth,  the  meaning  of  the  word  boijfeau  differs  exceedingly  in  variou? 
parts  oi  the  continent  of  Europe.  Tnis  is  an.embarrafTtnent  vhich  can- 
not cafily  be  removedi  and  happily  it  will  not  be  found  a  very  important 
one.  .         , 

Various  paffages  in  the  following  hiftory  are  in  efFedl  given  in  the  form 
of  dialogue,  though  the  change  of  the  Speaker  is  often  marked  only  by 
the  ufe  of  iyroertecl  comtnau  The  editor  had  to  copy  what  was  before 
him,  in  this  refped^;  and  Marn-ontel  in  the  preface  to  his  Moral  Tales, 
gives  the  foUo^ving  j.iftiticaaon  of  the  method.— *•  I  propofed  fome  years 

*  fmce,  under  the  article  Dialogue  in  the  [French]  Encyclopedia,  to  bar^- 

*  ifli  \\\zfaid  he  and  jaiJ //jey  from  lively  and  animated  dialogue,     I  have 

*  f»ad«  the  experimeuf  in  thefe  Tales,  and  I  think  it  has  fucceeded.     This 

*  manner  of  rendering  the  narrative  more  rapid,  is  troublefome  only  at 

*  fiift  :  As  foon  as  we  are  accuftomed  to  it,  it  makes  the  talent  of  readm^ 
<  w^//,  appear  to  greater  advantage." 


R      R      A      T      A. 


N.  8.  SUCH  ernta  only  ai  aitefl  the  fenfe  in  the  following  pages,  ar* 
here  noticed.  The  occurrence  cf  the  chief  of  thcfs  errata  being  explain- 
ed in  the  preface,  the  printer  will  be  fcuni'i  to  have  to  anfvver  for  little  ref- 
pef^ing  thcT.  The  reader  who  detef^s  the  exiftence  of  others  ftiU 
paff^d  over  in  theyf;//^i  will  refiifyand  allow  for  them,  as  he  proceeds. 

Page  r^".  line  23  of  the  note,  for  raw,  read,  grain,  n.  b.  This  cor- 
reftion  mut^  he  made  throughout  the  work  ;  corn^  in  the  countries  colo- 
cize^  from  Great  Britain,  meaning  in  general  Indian  corn  or  maize, 

p.  25.  1.  20,  read,  unwinnowed 

for   the   end  of  the  I.   22  and   for   the   hft    line,  read,    three 

malters:|:  and  twelve  bufnels  of  unwinnowed  grain,  with  full  thirty  bortcs 
(or  bundles.)   n.  b.  Botte  is  a  French  word  for  a  bundle  (of  hay  or  ftraw.) 

—  St  the  end  of  the  firft  note  F,  add,  n,  b.  Kliyogg  at  lafl:  be- 
came  a  ftrorg  advocate  for  clover.     E. 

p.  27.  I.  8.  ffons  the  bottonn,  after  feafonf  read,  facilitates  his  work  by 
permitting 

p.  28.  laft  line,  for  hi  him.  to  thist  read,  confirmed  his 

p.  30.  expunge  from  1.  23  to  1.  28  ;  and  in  !.  22,  after  *whfat ;  read, 
and  confequently  the  comparative  value  of  an  acre  of  potatoes,  to  an  acre 
of  wheat,  is,  as  ten  to  fix  :  a  \ziy  cfTential  difference  1  The  comparifjn  is 
no  iefs  unfavorable  to  fpelt  ;  fince  an  acre  produces  but  four  maLers  of 
fpelt,  which  are  net  more  in  value  than  fix  rauids  cf  wheat.—-. We  may 
likewife  add,  that  \ht  root  of  the  potatoe  remains 

p.  64. 1.  5.  read,  impatience, 

p.  71,  for  the  third  fentence  in  the  fecond  paragraph,  beginning  thus, 
His  animated  ejesf  &c,  fubftitute  what  will  be  found  in  the  fentence  tow- 
ards (the  bottom 'of  p.  172,  beginning  with  the  words,  His  eyes  ;  print- 
ing the  paffage  in  Roman  letters. 

p.  89.  laft  line  of  the  note,  after  except^  infert,  in  the  fecond  fe6\icn  of 
the  third  p^rf,  and 

p.  no.  for  the  lad  fentence  in  the  note  fubflftute  what  follows. By 

this  adl  cf  Kliycgg,  the  purpofes  alfo  of  the  Sunday,  as  a  day  of  reft^  arc 
violated  ;  in  which  view  the  Sunday  is  valuable  in  the  eyes  of  the  mere 
philanthrapift.  Sure!/  then  the  preparation  for  the  Monday's  work 
might  either  have  taken  place  on  the  Saturday  night  or  on  the  Monday 
morning,  without  giving  the  example  of  premedirated  bhor  on  the  Sun- 
day ;  the  weight  of  which  labor  ra^y  not  fall  upon  raan,  but  upon  cat- 
tle.    E. 

p.  123.  in  the  note  after  j^Z/ooy  and  before  the  femicolon,  infert,  refift- 
ing  the  adionof  fire  and  of  the  chetrical  acids,  and  coaiiiionly  more  of 
Iefs  tranfparent 

p.  129. 


ERRATA. 

p.  129.  In  the  mUt  1.  >o«  fo>f  correaion,  read,  colleftion 
p.  140,  In  the  title,  ftrikc  out,  and  death, 
p.  158. 1.  8.  for  i»as  not^  read,  had  not  been 
p.  184.  In  the  note,  for «,  read,  may  be 
p.  198. 1.  14  and  15.  ftrike  out,  an  outnuard  application 
K.  B.  In  p.  44,  97,  100,  102, 113.  141*  i54>  an<i   184,  fopply  an  % 
at  the  end  of  each  note,  where  its  author  is  not  already  pointed  oot. 


^HWnawsp 


THE 


RURAL  SOCRATES 


PART  THE  FIRST. 


SECTION    L 


Kliyogg^s  Origin,       His  Entrance  upG72  his  Farm,     His 
j^oricultural  Plans  t . 


*Ih. 


AVE  fladied  with  much  attention  (faid 

*  Socrates  the  antient  Greek  philofopher)  the  charadlers 

*  of  men  of  every  profeflion,  who  have  been  didin- 
'  gaiQicd  for  undejllanding  and  prudence.  I  had  ob- 
^  lerved  with    lurprife,  that   among  thofe   engaged   in 

*  the  fame  occnpations,    fome  remained    in   poverty, 

*  whilft  others  arrived  at  affluence.  The  caufe  of  this 
'  difference  leemed  worthy  of  particular  fearch  and  ex- 
^  amination  ;  and  the  pains  which  I  employed  in  invefliij 
^  gating  it  were  at  length  faccefsful. — 1  perceived  that 
'  thofc  who  formed  no  regular  plan^  and  worked  only 
'  from  day  to  day,  had  only  themfelves  to  blame  for  their 
^  want  of  fuccefs.  Thofe  on  the  contrary,  who  availed 
'  themfelves  of  fleady  and  well  fettled  maxims,  and  fo)- 
'  lowed  prudent  and  fixed  plans  5  joining,  as  they  went 

'  along, 

+  Dr.  HIrzcl   is    the   fpeakfr;  this  part  of  ihe   prefent   compilaJion 
containing  the  tranflaiion  of  his/'r/?  account  of  Kiiyogg,     Mr.  ArtbuT 
"^iuutig's  publication  coicpiized  this  parr,    uiih  Seft,  li,  in  the  jTeccn:! 
parr,  and  two  py  ihrce  Iboii  aiiicles  in  the  appendix.     S, 
'  A 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES, 

*  along,  aflidaity  to  attention,  and   order  to  exachicfs  ;; 

*  rendered  their  taflc  eafier  and  Ihorter,  and  irifinitely 
^  more  lucrative.  Whoever  will  iKidy  in  the  fchool  of 
^  the  latter,  will  increale  his  fortune  with  conilant  fa- 
'  tisfadion  to  kimjclj  and  in  cbfiaiice  oj every  thingJ^ 

I  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  with  one  of  the  char- 
acters which  Socrates  thus  defcribes,  in  the  perfon  of 
yames  Gouyer  ;  a  native  of  Wermetfchweil,  in  the  pa- 
rifh  of  Uiter'r.  He  was  pointed  out  tome  by  M.Vcequeli. 

James  Gouyer  prefented  to  my  admiring  eye,  the  moH; 
exalted  faculties  of  the  human  m/md,  in  a  (late  of  noble 
and  interefling  fiinplicity  ;  void  of  pretenfion  and 
ofcentation,  and  inch  in  fhort  as  they  come  out  of  the 
hands  of  nature.  The  circumflantialdefciiption  which 
I  have  colled:ed  of  his  management,  comprifes,-' in  my 
opinion,  every  thing  which,  upon  the  plan  of  Socrates, 
is  moft  important  to  be  known  for  the  improvement  of 
hulbandry.  Happy  (hall  I  be,  if  my  efforts  can  excite  a 
correfponding  emulation  among  our  farmers  !  The  jull 
praife  bellowed  on  the  man  whom  I  have  felevTted  for  a 
model,  and  the  honors  paid  to  his  fmgular  talents,  may 
at  lead:  aifure  them,  that  whenever  they  fulfil  the  duties 
oftheii'  flation  with  intelligence  and  affiduity  ;  like  him 
they  will  obtain  the  bledings  of  Providence,  with  the 
univerfal  approbation  and  eilecm  of  mankind. 

The  extraordinary  perlbn  who  is  the  fubjecH:  of  the 
following  work,  will  be  called  in  it  Kliyogg  (or  Utile 
y allies  f)  the  only  appellation  by  which  he  has  been 
known  in  his  own  country. — Every  thing  refpecfHn^ 
him,  to  the  leafl:  perceptible  trace  of  his  chaiacfler,  offers 
a  portrait,  the  combirration  of  whofc  parts  is  ^o  admira- 

ble. 


*  Th\s  pafTogc  xs  tranfiatcJ  from  the  French  tranfl.nlon  ;  tlic  oiiglnaj 
of  it  not  being  found  as  yet  in  the  works  of  Xenophon,  though  othfr  fsfli- 
gcs  cited  by  Dr.  Hirzel  have  been  difcovereii  there.     E. 

^■-  Ufter  lies  in  the  canton  of  Zurich  in  Switzerland,     E. 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  | 

He,  that  I  fhculd  feel  much  diflatisfied  were  the  fmali- 
eft  particle  added  to  the  original. 

The  charader  of  Kliyogg  is  not  that  of  a  man  cor- 
rupted by  frequent  converfe  with  the  inhabitants  of 
fome  neighboring  city  ;  and  who  has  been  led  to  afPame, 
and  to  be  defpifed  for  affuming,  manners  ill-fuited  to 
the  fituation  of  a  peafant  :  much  lefs  is  it  that  of  one, 
whom  the  fociety  of  men  of  letters,  or  a  fuperiicial 
knowledge  of  books,  has  made  a  pretender  to  learning* 
Kliyogg  is  obliged  to  nature  and  his  own  reflexions,  for 
all  that  he  poiGTefTes,  and  owes  nothing  to  art.  Content- 
ed with  his  lot,  he  refufes  every  office^  even  in  the  vil- 
lage where  he  refides. 

His  brother  lives  with  him  2  their  families,  though 
large,  form  but  one  houfhold. — Kliyogg  has  fix  chil- 
dren, and  his  brother  five  ;  who  are  all,  except  one 
daughter,  mere  infants. — At  the  death  of  their /ather, 
the  family  inheritance  was  divided  amongft  five  fons* 
The  eldefl  chofe  an  cftate  for  his  fliare  ;  the  two  next 
preferred  money  ;  and  our  afTociates  remained  joint 
heirs  to  a  tra£i:  of  land  of  about  ninety-fom'  acreSj* 
^yhicli  was  thus  divided  : 


Meadow  g,roun-d 
Arable 
Pafture 
Wood 


Acres » 


Total  94 

The  value  of  this  farm  might  be  ^75^*  fleriing.  It 
liad  a  mortgage  upon  it  for  half  that  amount  at  the  time 

of 

*  Acres,  in  the  canton  of  Zarich,  vary  from  30,000  to  36,000  royal 
fqii^Tc  feet.     F. 

The  proportion  betwcei^  the  Paris  roy'sfl  foot  and  the  EngHfh  foot  1$ 
this  ;  If  the  Englifh  foot  be  divided  into  looo  pa/ts,  the  Paris  one  wJU 
be  106S  [that  is  nearly  as  15  to  16.]  The  Engliih  acre  contains  43,560 
Englilh  feet  :  therefore,  {"uppofing  the  Zurich  acre  be  to  33',coo,  the 
proportion  between  the  Zurich  and  Engliih  will  be,  as  10  to  14,  Y, 
I'lhe  differei^ce  of  the  feet  makes  it  lefs  ihao  a»  ^  is  to  ^j^    E.  j 


'/^  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

of  their  father's  death.  Eefidcs  this,  it  was  charged 
•w^ith  the  payment  of  the  younger  brothers'  fortunes. 
One  of  thefe  died  foon  after,  and  returned  them  a  part ; 
but  by  adding  a  payment  to  be  made  to  the  youngeft 
icn,  the  debt  flill  amounted  to  547l»  6s.—- This  un- 
doubtedly appeared  a  heavy  incumbrance  on  fo  fmall 
an  eftate  ;  and  the  neighboring  farmers  judged  with 
great  probability,  that  our  two  brotTiers  muft  loon  fink 
under  it. — Indeed,  how  could  they  fee  any  other  prof- 
ped  in  their  hazardous  fituation  ?  burthcned,  as  they 
were,  with  the  management  of  a  farm,  whole  produce 
znuft  previoufly  raife  an  annual  rent-charge  for  the  pay- 
ment of  intcreft  ;  and  the  land  To  impovcridied  and  ne- 
gledted,  that  it  feemed  impoHiblc  to  bring  it  into  con- 
dition, unlefs  at  an  immoderate  expence.  A  family  fo 
circumftanced,  where  there  were  many  to  feed  and  few 
to  work,  muft  occafion  great  confumption,  and  afford 
fmall  alliflance  towards  the  cultivation  of  a  farm  of 
fuch  extent.  The  neceffity  of  hiring  laborers  alfo  ap- 
peared indifpenfable,  and  the  wages  of  fuch  were  great- 
ly advanced  from  the  manufadlures  carried  on  in  that 
partoftlie  country. — Such  united  obflacles,  produced 
that  efFe<a  on  the  mind  of  KHyogg  which  they  ought, 
but  rarely  do,  produce  :  They  animated  him  with  rc- 
folution  to  redouble  his  zeal  and  application  to  fur- 
mount  them.  He  reflcded  on  the  bed  manner  of  im- 
proving the  property,  and  purfued  it  with  alacrity  and 
checrfulnefs. — Heaven  beheld  his  perfevcrance  with  a 
fmile  of  complacency  ;  and  envy  itfelf  was  forced  t6 
acknowledge,  that  our  prudent  cconomifV  contrived, 
without  the  aid  of  flrangers  or  contratSling  frefh  debts, 
confiderably  to  augment  his  fortune.  •  His  children  arc 
abundantly  fupplied  with  food  atid  raiment  ;  the  health 
and  vigor  of  their  conftitution  incrcafes  ;  and  he  has  all 
imaginable  reaion  to  hope  that  they  wilL  in  a  few  years, 
be  able  to  afTiil  in  rendering  his  labors  ftill  more  fuc- 
cefsful.  Punduality  in  payment  keeps  his  mind  at  eafe;; 
9sA  the  overplus  which  \ih  economy  Aipplie*^  enables 
*    •  him  ■ 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATJES.  f 

fiim  to  extend  his  improvements,  and  even  to  purchafe, 
ss  they  fall  in  his  way,  fevcral  new  pieces  of  ground, 
Kliyogg's  live  ftock  confided  of 

Oxen  3    '  ,  / 

Cows  4  ^  ^y^ 

Horfe  I  /I  '  U--  I 

Hogs  i2 

In  all  lo 

JEIis  cows  are  middle  fized,  according  to  the  breed  m 
his  diflridl ;  bat  well  fed  ;  and  yield  plenty  of  milk.— 
The  finefl  cow  he  values  at  3I.  is.  3d.  the  fecond  at 
2I.  I2S.  6d.  and  the  two  fmallefl  at  2I.  3s.  pd. — The 
profits  of  the  dairy  are  confumed  in  the  family.  Ac- 
cording to  his  calculation,  exclufive  of  grafs  in  the  fum- 
iner  months,  his  cows  annually  eat  each  two  loads  of 
hay.  His  oxen  arc  large  and  well  made,  and  cod  about 
5I.  9s.  4d.  a  beaff.  '  Though  they  are  hard  worked^ 
they  are  in  good  plight.  Their  allowance  is  three 
loads  of  hay  per  ox. — Kliyogg  finds  it  anfwer  to  buy 
two  or  three  lean  bullocks  every  year,  and  fatten  them 
during  two  months  and  an  half  for  the  market.  The 
firft  price  of  thefe  is  commonly  4I.  ys.  6d.  and  the  al- 
lowance to  each  a  load  of  hay,  which  may  be  eflimated 
at  il.  6s.  3d.  The  felling  price  of  a  fat  bullock  is 
61.  2s.  6d.  fo  that  his  profit,  in  reality,  is  no  more  than 
a  piftole  ;  and,  fmall  as  it  is,  depends  on  the  conftitu-» 
tion  of  the  animal  j  and  the  rife  and  fall  of  the  market. 

It  is  not  from  grazing  therefore  that  Kliyogg  expc^lg 
advantage,  but  from  an  article  more  to  be  depended  on, 
the  increajc  of  dung  for  manure,      • 

Kliyogg  finds  his  horfe  more  expenfive  than  fervicc* 
able,  and  feems  determined  to  fell  him,  and  lay  out  the 
money  in  oxen.  A  horfe,  he  fays,  is  a  very  expenfive 
animal.  He  requires  the  fame  quantity  of  hay  as  an 
ox  ;  befides  oats  and  flioeing,  to  the  amount  of  a  piflole 
yearly.     The  value  of  a  horfe  dccrcafes  with  years  ; 

whereat 


f  ,     THE  RURAL  SOCRATES; 

nji^iereas  an  ox,  when  old  and  pafl  labor,  may  be  fatten- 
ed aiid  fold  for  his  mailer's  benefit.  In  a  word,  he 
computes,  that  two  oxen  may  be  maintained  for  one 
horfe  ;*  and,  it  may  be  added,  ihat  horfedung  ^  by  no 
raeans  fo  beneficial  to  land,  as  the  dang  of  horned  cattle. 

The  advantages  which  Kllyogg  derives  from  his  cat- 
tle are,  firfl:,  milk  and  butter,  for  family  ufes  ;  fecondly, 
work  ;  thirdly,  manure. — He  very  rationally  confiders 
^le  lafi  article  (or  manure)  as  the  bafis  of  the  improve- 
ment of  the  foil  :  confequently  he  has  applied  the  whole 
force  of  his  care  and  indullry  towards  its  accumulation  ; 
snd  has  fo  well  fucceeded,  that,  from  his  fmail  number 
of  beafls,  he  colle&  yearly,  about  a  hundred  tumbrel 
Ioads»t  This  is  double  the  quantity  he  gathered  the 
firfl  year  of  his  farmmg  (which  yet  was  equal  to  what 
Lad  been  done  by  any  hufbandman  in  the  village)  and 
kd  him  to  conclude,  ''  that  the  generality  of  farmers 
*'  have  too  great  a  proportion  of  live  ftock  to  their 
*'  ground. '' — This  conclufion  appeared  to  me  at  firfl 
very  extraordinary  ;  and  almofl  tempted  me  to  believe 
my  philofopher  a  man  of  paradox  and  fxngularity.  But 
his  explication  of  this  aenigma,  fatisfied  and  undeceived 
me. — '' When  a  farm,"  fays  he,  'Ms  overflocked,  the 
**  farmer  is  forced  to  fend  his  cows,  in  the  fummer 
**  months,  to  graze  on  commons  at  a  diftance  from 
5*  their  ihcds  ;  which  is  the  lofs  of  fo  much  to  the 
f-*  farc.i-y5.rd«     Tte  pjve.rty   pf  ^hefe    .commons    rc- 

"  duces 

^Thk  determination  of  our  cultivator  is  very  remarkable,  and  ihouU 
l>e  attended  to  by  all  Englidi  farmers  and  others,  who  have  an  opportunitj^ 
of  making  a  choice  between  horfcs  and  oxen  for  the  works  of  huibandry» 
*aFhi»  peafant  attended  to  the  minutiae  of  the  comparifon  with  an  accuracy 
onattainable  in  his  fuperiors.  He  worked  them,  fed  them,  arid  perform'- 
^  every  office  relative  to  theon,  himfrif.  How  particularly  judiciout 
therefore  cnuft  be  his  idea*  of  the  matter !— The  proportion  of  tivo  to  on; 
M  a  pi'odigious  fuperiority  to  oxen,  abfolutely  dccifivc  ;  it  is  the  difcoverf 
©fa  proporiion  that  was  greatly  wajiied  in  hulbandryt  and  fhould  be  kept 
^k  fneau/f^  as  a  poiiU  of  knowledge-     Y . 

^  Tofl»iHre2a, 


^      7^HE  IIUHAL  S0CIIATE5.  7 

^'  duces  their  miik  ;  and  to  remedy  tliis  inconveni- 
''  ence,  the  manger  mufl  be  filled  with  freHi  grais 
^'  when  they  are  biouplit  home  at  nigiit  ;  which 
*'  necelTai  ily  occviilons  a  diminution  of  winter  riores. 
^'  Scarcity  of  hay  mvifl  imply  a  call  for  flraw  ;  which 
'  *  ought  to  have  been  entirely  appropriated  to  the  life  of 
''  the  dunghill,  as  without  it  no  improvement  of  foil  can 
'^  beexpcded  :  befides  which,  bad  food  is  the  fouice  of 
''  an  infinite  variety  of  diilempers/^  In  tlui  maiiner 
the  judicious  Kliyogg  pointed  cut  a  principal  caule  of  the 
decline  of  agricukuje  in  this  country. — It  is  a  ccitain 
fa6V^  that  many  of  our  farmers  keep  more  cattle  than 
they  can  conveniently  fapport  in  winter,  'i  he  arable 
and  miCadow  lands  are,  by  this  bad  management,  depriv- 
ed of  part  of  the  manme  they  require.  The  cattle  be- 
ing enfeebled  for  want  ofwhoiefomiC  nourlfhment,  (par- 
ticularly towards  the  fpring)  lofe  their  milk,  or  tlicir 
laboring  flrength,  and  frequently  die  of  difeafes  eahly 
accounted  for  !  Thefe  are  melancholy  tiuths  which  e^^- 
perience  too  \\  cll  evinces  !* 

'Oar  fagacious  hufbandman  keeps  no  more  live  frock 
than  he  can  amply  fupport  with  grafs  and  hay  Irom  his 
own  fields.     The  (traw  is  carefully  prefer ved,  and  ufed 

only 


*  Tfils  pnrt  of  Kltyo£g*s  econorriy  is  very  particular  !  The  S^ifs 
firmers  muft  manage  very  differently  from  the  Britifh  ones,  to  be  (o  over- 
flocked  wiih  caule. — The  misforiune  in  England  is,  the  rot  keepinj; 
enough  ;— but  how  a  rcan  Ihculd  in  general  overnock  hiaifelf  in  winter,  I 
knew  not,  without  fuppofii  g  the  moil  egregious  folly.  Large  Tock?  of 
cattle  are  the  {oul  of  good  hiffnandry ;  but  winter  food  fhould  certainly 
be  provided.. — The  writer  oi  this  v.ork  does  not  fiifficiently  explain  ths 
article  of  winter  food  :  I  apprehend  it  is  hay  alone  :  all  ihe  ^.x»iv  is  for 
liuer  :  turnips  sre  mentioned,  but  fj  very  fi'tghtly,  thai-  one  can  difcover 
nothing  of  their  management.  If  therefore  hay  is  ths  orilv  food,  the  over- 
flocking  is  explained  j  but  the  hufbandry  is  wretched.     Y. 

[Qnery.  Doc3  Mr.  Young  re flefi  that  turnips  in  countnes  where  (he 
cold  fetsin  caib, ,  accompanied  w^ih  fnow  which  remains  till  fprir.g,  have 
not  the  firre  advantages  'a  hicb  they  pofTvfa  in  England*  of  which  the  cli- 
mate is  mild  :  E.  J 


8  THE    RURAL  SOCRATES. 

onl}^  for   Utter,  of  which  he    is  fo  liberal  in  his  liallS; 
that  the  beads  are  baried  ia  it  up  to  the  knees.* 

He  is  attentive  alio  to  gather  all  the  dried  leaves, 
mofs^  and  rnfhes  from  his  ground,  tliat  can  ferve  foj- 
litter.  The  finall  dead  boughs  and  pointed  leaves  of 
fir  trees  in  particular,  afford  plentiful  materials  for  this 
purpofe  ;  and  he  employs  in  this  occupation  the  greater 
part  of  the  tia:ie  he  can  ipare  from  his  other  work. — A 
compoil:  dunghill  appears  to  him  an  objrvft  of  fo  great 
importance  to  the  imprcvement  of  laiid,  that,  of  all 
branches  of  labor,  he  regrets  the  want  of  allidants  in 
this  the  mod  ;  and  waits  as  a  fmgular  bleding,  the  time 
when  his  children  d^all  be  capable  of  contributing  tiieir 
ihare  :  So  thoroughly  is  he  jjerfuaded  that  he  wants  on- 
ly laboring  hands,  to  procure  fifty  loads  more  of  ma- 
rnre,  v^ithout  increafing  the  number  of  his  cattle* 

2n  profecution  of  this  defign,  in  autumn,  during  thp 
rncoTi's  increafe,  Kiiyogg  goes  into  his  wood  wM*i:h  a 
liCuge  bill  to  prune  the  fupernuracrary  branches  of  fa* 
jiud  j>ine  trees  ;  even  of  thofe  which  he  thinks  it  ufeful 
to  leave  ;  boldly  venturing  to  cut  the  lower  dioots  of 
young  trees  clofe  to  the  trunk.  Thefc  he  binds  into 
faggots  and  carries  home  ;  placing  them  under  a  died 
till  a  proper  feafon  for  piofccuting  his  work. — At  Icifure 
hours,  and  efpecially  in  long  winter  evenings,  he  pre- 
pares thefe  faggots  for  the  purJDofes  intended  :  an  em- 
ployment fo  little  difagreeable  or  fatiguing,  that  it 
ferves  him  for  recreation.  He  begins  wiih  cutting  the 
imail  boughs  away  from  the  larger  ones  ;  laying  them, 
with  the  pointed  leaves  of  thefe  trees,  in  little  heaps,  tcj 
be  ufed  for  litter  ;  while  the  Inrger  and  tougher  boughs 
arc  rcfervqd  for  fuel.  By  this  method  he  amadcs  many 
proper  materials  for  good  manure,  that  are  commonly 
iuffsred  to  rot  ufelefsly  in  the  woods,  which  is  fo  much 

real 

•'■  A  moil  excellent  praiPore  tliat  r?nnot  he  too  much  aihnireJ.  It  is^ 
sirriBzing  I'lft  qoantity  of  manufc  th''(«T>aybe  raifed  by  fjch  p'sfikcs^-v 
»ht»  a  a^^'^  can  coar>  oani  a  phnty  of  liucr»     Y, 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  f 

real  lofstohufbandry.  To  Kliyogg^  this  difcovery  js  an 
ineftimable  treafure,  of  which  we  were  either  ignorant 
or  forgetful.  The  opinion  is  farther  verified  in  Zell- 
weguer's  defcription  of  the  mode  of  hufoandry  iifcd  in 
the  canton  of  Appenzell,  They  fcatter  there  dead 
branches  of  fir  and  pine-trees  in  great  roads  to  be  tram- 
pled by  cattle  and  paiTengers ;  by  which  means  they 
acquire  a  beginning  of  putrefa£lion,  and  are  converted 
into  manure  though  of  a  very  indifferent  quality. — But 
Kliyogg,  who  had  experienced  how  defc^ive  this  me- 
thod was,  has  fucceeded  in  what  at  firft  feemed-hard  to 
accomplifh  t  namaly,  converting  thefe  very  materials 
into  excellent  manure.  It  is  known  that  the  refinous  and 
aromatic  juices  contained  in  the  prickly  leaves  of  pines 
are  powerful  enemies  to  putrefa£lion  :  but  what  obfl:a- 
cles  are  not  to  be  furmounted  by  reafon  feconded  by  in- 
duftry  ?  Kliyogg  fubdued  them  all,  by  obferving  cer- 
tain rules  in  the  preparation  of  litter  for  his  cattle, 
and  of  the  different  flrata  of  his  dunghilL 

In  regard  to  the  firfl  article,  he  feldom  removes  the 
litter  under  a  week,  firewing  frefh  upon  the  top  once  a 
day  ;  by  which  means  it  becomes  impregnated  with  ani- 
mal falts,  and  acquires  a  very  evident  degree  of  fer- 
mentation before  it  is  removed  to  th^  dunghill,— An 
obje£lion  may  arife  to  this  pra£lice,.  which  I  my felf  could 
not  avoid  making  :  namely,  that  the  flrong  effluvia  ari- 
fing  from  the  fermented  litter,  muft  be  prejudicial  to 
the  health  of  the  cattle.  But  Kliyogg  afTured  me,  that 
experience  contradicted  this  ;  and  thanked  God  that  his 
beads  had  always  been  remarkably  healthfni  and  vigo- 
rous. Nor  does  this  method  prevent  cleanlinefs,  if  a 
conftant  fupply  of  frefh  litter  is  attended  to  ;  and  the 
cattle  are,  at  the  fame  time,  more  warm  and  comforta- 
ble. 

This  exa£i:nefs  is  equally  confpjcuous  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  litter  when  taken  away.  It  is  placed  in  le- 
parate  layers  upon  the  dunghill  ;  fo  methodized,  that 
thofe  where  the  fermentation  is  fooncft  to  be  CKPeiHied, 


a#  THE  RURAL  SOCRATESk 

gn ay  accelerate  the  putrefaction  of  others  where  it  U 
more  flow.-;-In  the  beginning  of  autumn  he  litters  hia 
cattle  with  flraw  during  two  months ;  the  next  two 
months  he  litters  them  with  twigs  and  fpines  (or  point- 
ed leaves)  from  fir  and  pine  trees  ;  then  flraw  again,  or 
ruflies  and  dried  leaves  5  then  twigs  and  fpines  y  and  £0 
on  alternately. 

The  regulation  of  his  compofl  dunghill  is  as  fol- 
lows—Left the  fermentation  fhould  be  totally  fuppreC* 
fed  or  even  checked  by  drought,  he  is  afliduoufly  atten- 
tive to  the  prefervation  of  a  certain  degree  of  moifture. 
The  celebrated  M.  de  Reaumur,  in  his  treatife  on  hatch- 
ing eggs  in  ovens  or  hot  houfes,  obicrves,  that  when  the 
heat  of  the  hot- bed  decreafes,  it  fnould  be  watered  to 
increafe  fermentation.  The  fagacity  of  our  philofopher 
has  explained  to  him,,  that  to  obtain  a  manure  thorough- 
ly rotten,  he  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  preferve  a  con- 
ilant  fermentation  by  frequent  waterings. — To  facilitate 
this,  he  has  funk  near  his  dunghill  feven  large  fquarc 
pits,  which  are  planked  with  wood  in  the  form  of  boxes* 
In  thefe  pits  he  keeps  the  prolific  water,  efiential  to  £0 
anany  operations.  Firll:,  putting  fome  thoroughly  fer- 
mented cow- dung  at  the  bottom  of  his  wooden  boxes, 
he  pours  in  a  pretty  confiderable  quantity  of  boiling 
"Water  ;  and  then  fills  up  the  pit  with  frefh  water  from 
his  wells  :  this  brings  on,  in  three  weeks,  -a  ftate  of 
putrefcence  ;  which,  without  boiling  water,  could  not 
be  attainable  in  two  months.  He  has  thus  a  perpetual 
fupply  of  corrupted  water,  as  well  for  the  purpofes  of 
vegetation,  as  to  keep  his  dunghill  in  a  conftant  flate  of 
humidity.*— But  as  the  expence  and  labor  o£  fuch  a 

work 


•  Were  the  encourtgert  of  agriculture  to  compare  what  Is  here  related 
with  part  1 1,  fcd^ion  ^»  of  that  incomparable  work  of  Dto  Francis  Hoire%> 
in'itled,  the  Principles  of  Agrkulirne  and  Vegetation,  tbcy  would  certainly 
beftruck  with  the  exaO  fiir.ilarity  that  appears  in  the  prad^ical  hufbandiy 
of  our  iudirious  peafijnf,  and  the  Dolor's  precepts  given  as  new  obfer« 
vstioct,     K^liy^gg  <3ircover9d  ihfrri  by  the  light  ©f  oiaiOfe  ;  Home,  by  h«i 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  it 

work  ihight  far  exceed  the  profit  :  Kliyogg  has  thought 
of  a  means,  that,  in  a  great  meafure,  reduces  both  s 
this  he  calls,  in  his  language,  ''  going  the  (horteft 
way  to  work  ,''  which  is  a  fundamental  maxim  in  all 
his  proceedings.  In  purfuance  of  it,  he  dug  a  well  in 
an  orchard  adjoining  to  his  bleaching- ground,  at  a  pro* 
per  height, to  convey  whatever  quantity  of  water  he  has 
occafion  for  by  a  wooden  pipe  dire^Slly  into  the  copper* 
His  refervoirs  of  flagnant  water  arc  funk  below  his  flails 
and  ftables,  with  the  fame  view  to  conveuiency.  There 
is  likewife  a  trough  at  the  declivity  of  the  dunghill  to 
receive  the  water  that  drains  from  it  ;  which  gi\es  an 
cafy  opportunity  of  moiftening  the  dunghill  frequently, 
without  robbing  the  foil  of  its  fhare  of  the  ftagnant 
water. 

The  fuccefs  of  this  method  of  watering  his  dunghill, 
fbggefted  an  idea  of  putrefying  finall  twigs  of  fir  or  pine, 
without  ufing  them  for  litter.  He  Jays  them  in  clofe 
heaps,  preffed  down,  and  covered  with  earth,  to  prevent 
evaporation  ;  and  pours  flagnated  water  on  them  every- 
day, till  converted  into  rich  mould. 

Kliyogg  is  Co  perfectly  convinced  of  the  efEcacy  of 
heat  in   accelerating  putrefaction,  that  he  believes  all 

foils, 

fceowlejge  in  cbymitlry  !— **  Let  us  make,"  fays  he,  page  6r,  "foma 
**  praflical  obfcrvations  with  regard  to  tke  msBagement  of  dunghills ;  fot 
'♦  this  is  in  affair  of  confidera'islc  importance,  and  in  which  hf.vtxt  (eem 
"  to  be  very  ignorant.  Dry  vegetables  require  a  comfiderablc  degree  of 
**  moifture  before  they  can  be  brought  to  putrefy.  I  think  donghills  are 
*'  genaraliy  kept  too  dry,  as  they  are  commonly  placed  on  a  high  fit- 
*'  uation,  and  are  themfelves  raif»d  to  a  confiderablc  height,  A  hollow  fit- 
*•  uation,  which  will  retain  the  raoifture,  is  the  beff-.  Too  nsoch  moifture 
•*  is  likewife  bad.  This  may  be  prevented  by  having  hollow  places  with 
**clay  bottoms  at  the  fide  of  the  dunghill,  into  which  the  foperfluoag 
«*  iroirTorc  may  be  allowed  to  run,  and  from  whence  it  may  be  rcftored 
**  again  by  pumps  to  the  dunghill  at  pleafure." — —And  again,  "there 
*•  are  ferments  for  the  potrefa^ive  fermentaiion  as  well  as  the  Tinoas. 
**  Hence  Slahl,  Corpus  in pjitredine  exi^enSi  Sec,  Sec,**  If  the  urine  of  Jiorfe* 
«nd  ftall-fed  cattle  is  carried  into  proper  refervoirs,  and  there  allowed  to 
tarn  ftale,  it  will,  if  thtowiion  th«  duoghill,  very  mijclj  quickfs  tl'.e  h^^ 
isiMtation.    F. 


is  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES^ 

foilsj  even  the  moft  barren,  may  be  rendered  ferlile  by 
warmthv — Upon  this  principle  *  he  infers,  that  an  ex^ 
iremely  hot  dry  fummer  will  be  fucceeded  by  a  remarka- 
bly fruitful  one.  ^'  Heat,"  fays  Kliyogg,  *'  putreliest 
and  enriches."  In  confequence  of  this  opinion  he  told 
me,  about  the  middle  of  the  winter  I75'9,  that  the  en- 
fuing  harvefl  would  yield  three  (heaves  inflcad  of  two  : 
The  event  confirmed  the  prediction.  He  repeated  the 
lime  thing  inamed lately  after  the  drought  of  lad  year, 

•    ■    which 

*  It  may  be  neceffary  to  obfervcthar  where  the  foil  fs  irrpregnated  with 
troo,  fife  will,  on  the  contrary,  increafe  its  fterility.  The  fatmer  cannot 
be  too  careful  in  examining  the  quality  of  his  lands  by  the  u{yal  expeii- 
jnents,  which  it  would  be  well  to  perfed.     F. 

i  We  (hall  be  fenHble  of  the  truth  of  this  obfcrvation  of  our  judiciou* 
pcafant,  if  we  extend  our  refiexions  to  thofe  countries  where  the  climatep 
without  being  excclTively  hot,  h  yet  much  warmer  than  our  own  ;  and 
ivhere  we  (hall  find  a  nmch  nacre  vigorous-  vegetation,  than  can  be  ac- 
counted for  from  difTerence  of  foil  or  labor, —  Herodotus  allures  us  that 
the  lands  of  Babylon  produced  fro»ii  two  to  three  hundred  ears  of  corn  for 
one.  Piioy  fays,  that  in  Lybia,  the  proportion  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  i 
Chili  produces  from  fixty  to  eighty  and  a  hundred.  The  fertility  inpat- 
ficular  didric^s  of  Peru,  is  ftill  greater  i  There  are  fields  where  the  reap- 
ers gather  tour  or  five  hundred  for  one,  of  all  kinds  «f  giain.  Mr.  Ad- 
amfonj  an  ingenious  naturalill,  attributes  theextraori^inary  frcitfulnefs  of 
ihefands  of  Senegal  to  the  efl'efts  of  heat.  He  informs  us,  that  he  fowed 
ieveral  forts  of  leguminous  (t<td^t  which  afforded  twelve  crops  in  a  year. 
The  never  failing  harveits  of  Sicily,  ^gypt,  and  part  of  northern  Afri- 
ca, are  welikoown  ;  as  well  as  the  ancient  fertility  ofCorfica  and  Spain. 
Let  us  recolle(5l  the  former  teriiliiy  and  populatioji  of  the  Holy  Lind, 
Let  us  call  a  look  towards  China,  and  fon^c  particular  provinces  of  India 
and  Perfia  j— and  we  fnail  be  convinced  at  leaft,  that  all  things  confuiercdj, 
there  canr.ot  be  fo  great  a  proportion  of  manure,  or  of  iflclefatigablc  la- 
boring hands  in  thofe  countries,  as  in  our  own.     F.     ? 

Thus  far  the  French  tranflator. — But  it  is  not  the  hot  furhmer  in  Swit- 
sr.erland  which  is  frniiful  :  it  is  the  fucceeding  or.e.  hfallo'w  occurs 
during  the  h?!af,which  favors  the  fucceeding  crops  i  but  it  is  at  the  cxpencfi 
of  the  firft  crop. 

The  prolific  vegetation  of  cerfln  hot  countries  is  ovviiig  to  great  and 
long  heate,  joined  to  a  njoifl:  foil  or  air.  Lt^ng  continued  growing  weather  ia 
equivalent  to  two  or  three  fummers  in  the  courfe  of  one  and  the  fame 
^'ear  ;  and  therefore  gives  room  for  fuccelTive  crops  in  the  farrte  year. — For 
the  fame  rcafon  inferior  foils  in  hot  countries,  if  feconded  by  moifiurfp 
yield  more  i\\  a  ^ivcn  crop,  ibau  they  do  in  the  colder  clinsates  o{  iha 
r:i:'th»    E, 


THE  RUR^L  SOCRATES.  l  j 

Vfhlch  is  veriiied  in  the  prefent  year  of  plenty,  1761, 
It  will  even  appear  that  the  earth  has  been  more  lavilh 
in  her  produtStions  this  year  than  the  preceding,  if  al- 
lowances arc  made  for  the  north  winds,  which  prevailed 
in  the  beginning  of  ApriL 

Our  indefatigable  cultivator  does  not  bound  his  im- 
provements within  the  circle  of  that  quantity  of  ma-* 
nure  which  his  induflry  procures  from  a  fmall  num- 
ber of  cattle. — He  buys  every  yearTeven  tumbrel  loads 
of  dung  from  hi^  neighbors,  which  cofl  him  il.  los.  yd- 
Theie  he  mixes  with  fix  tons  of  peat  afhes,  which  come 
to  about  2S.  the  twenty  bufhels. — He  finds  the  eife£l  of 
thefe  two  kinds  of  manure  anfwerable  to  the  price. 

Not  fatisfied  with  this,  he  turned  his  attention  to  oth- 
er methods  of  enriching  his  land. — With  this  view  he 
took  a  journey  into  the  bailiwick  of  Regenfperg,  v/here 
they  ufe  marie  with  great  fuccefs  ;   it  being  found  in 
abundance  below  Laguerberg.     Having  made  flriiSfc  in- 
quiry into  its  properties  and  the  manner  of  ufing  it, 
this  fpecies  of  improvement  appeared  to  him  fo  defira- 
ble,  that  at  his  return  he  made  many  unfuccefsful   at- 
tempts to  difcover  marie  in  his  own  neighborhood.-—  ^ 
What  a  pity  that  this  examiner  of  nature  ftiould  be  a 
ftranger  to   the  ufe  of  the  boring  inftriiment    in  thefe 
inquiries  I — x\s  a  fubflitute  for  marie,  his  induflry  dii- 
covered  a  method  of  improving  land  that  anfwered  very 
near  the  fame  purpofes,  from  a  fmall  gravel ;   of  which 
I  Ihall  give  a  circumflantial  detail  when  I  defcribe  Kli- 
yogg*s  manner  of  preparing  his  land  for  corn.— He  like* 
wife  found  in  turf,  cut  from  the  jRirface  of  the  paflurc 
or  fallow  land  where  the  grafs  is  very  luxuriant,  proper 
materials,  when  well  prepared,  for  rich  manure.     The 
preparation  confifts  in  expofing  the  turf  for  two  years  in 
open  air,to  all  the  influence  of  the  learons,till  it  is  entirely 
decayed  ;  when  it  may  be  fpread  with  fuccefs  on  mea- 
dows-or  corn-fields. — Kliyogg  never  fuffers  prejudice  of 
any  kind  to  lead  him  to  the  rejection  of  new  experiments/ 


14  THK  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

biat  thinks  them  all  deferving  of  attention^  and  teilifie* 
liis  gratitude  to  the  communicator. — He  apprehends,  in 
general,  that  all  mixture  of  earths^  "where  their  nature  U 
Sffirent,  contributes  to  fertility  ;  nay,  even  where  the 
diitin^ion  lies  only  in  color  ;  and  he  has  no  doubt  of 
improving  a  field  if,  at  a  moderate  expence,  he  can  con- 
trive to  carry  f  refli  mould  to  it  of  a  different  quality. 
Thus  a  light  foil,  according  to  him,  is  improved  by  a 
heavy  one  ;  a  f  sndy  foil  by  a  clayey  one  \  a  blue  clay 
Jby  a  red  clay,  <S:c. 

It  is  in  tiiefe  different  modes  of  procuring  manure^ 
and  in  the  continual  pains  to  obtain  it,,  that  in  the  opin^ 
ion  of  our  judicious  cultivator,  the  fundamental  bafis 
of  agriculture  confiils.  In  truth,  lands  are  more  im- 
proved, and  with  lefs  trouble,  by  proper  manure,  than 
*  by  frequent  ploughing  or  digging  ;  notwithlianding 
Tuil,  an  Jinglifti  writer,  attempts  to  prove  the  fufficien- 
ey  of  the  latter  alone. — Let  it  be  granted  to  Tull^  that 
manure  has  no  other  effed  than  to  heat  and  render  the 
earth  more  porous,  from  a  fermentation  excited  :  Is  not 
this  effed  more  likely  to  be  produced  from  the  facility 
with  which  it  penetrates  according  to  its  nature,  tlic 
fmalled  particles  of  earth  when  in  contact  with  them  ; 
than  from  afimple  divifionof  thefe  particles  by  an  ope- 
ration merely  mech:^nical  ?  It  may  likewifc  be  added, 
that  the  oily  and  faline  parts  contained  in  manure  are 
extremely  conducive  to  the  nouri(hment  of  plants  :  Nor 
js  it  lefs  certain  that  an  union  of  tliefe  two  methods  of 
improvement,  is  the  uUimate  perfection  of  hulbandry. 
It  would  be  for  the  advantage  of  every  farmer,  if  he 

had 

•  Thofe  parts  of  rural  economlca  which  have  iVivided  the  opinion  df 
*hc  fuperior  clafa  of  cultivators,  will  by  them  be  very  feldom  determined  i 
Their  ingenuity  Is  (oo  great  to  admit  of  eniifc  conviiJJon  .  The  unpre- 
jodiccd  part  of  th«  world  ftioiild,  in  fuch  cafes,  be  deterrnin^id  by  opinioni 
totally  unbinffed  by />/^r/»j.  Kliyugg's  teftimony  In  this  aCair  coincide* 
vjih  that  of  the  beft  hufbandmeo  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  thi^ 
^ay  J  and  I  have  found  it  true  from  ihe  proof  of  foms  hendredi  of  parti- 
|M^ar  «xptrijncnts  on  bsth  grarelly  ar;d  clayry  bani».     "^  - 


T^E  RURAL  SOC!lAT£!l,  15 

bid  Icifure  to  plough  his  lands  according  to  the  rnles 
laid  down  by  Tull  and  ,his  imitators,  after  having  iirft 
well  dreffcd  them  with  proper  manure,* 

W« 

*"Fredctic  William,  King  of  Pruffia,  an  exccJIcnt  financier  In  manf 
•^'refprfts,  and  who  applied  ooanj  greai  ideas  to  the  defail  of  praf^ice,  rea- 
«<  foncd  very  jaftly  in  making  it  an  cftaijlinied  principle  cf  his  politicaf 
«*  fyftem,  that  agriculture  is  the  fo  •yidatiorr^  the  opuUnre  and ptofperity  of 
**  cfiate.  He  encouraged  it  in  the  ftrongeft  mamc  ,  a'.id  made  reguU- 
**tion8  in  its  fivotw,  of  which  the  wifdom  was  unperctived  till  after  mairjr 
••  years.  The  conftant  attention  he  paid  to  the  ohfervance  of  thcfc  regu- 
«*  iations  completed  their'  falutary  efFcOs. — This  monarch  had  underftand- 
•*  ing  to  know  (and  all  finartciers  ought  to  be  proud  of  receiving  inftrtic 
« tioos  fror«  a  mafter)  that  the  «roft  ftubborn  and  infrnile  foils  are  roeliJV 
«•  rated  by  manuring  and  ploughibg  ;  and  that  rich  lar.ds  ai«  made  I^HI 
«*  richer.  He  therefore  infifted  that  the  farm«rs  of  his  demefnes,  and  th» 
<•  proprietors  of  eflatcs  in  lands,  Ihould  manure  them  fulHciently,  and 
«»  plough  them  deeply  and  frequently. — When  the  king  was  expefted  to 
«*  pafs  thrcbgh  any  of  the  provinces,the  gentlemen,  the  farmer?,  nay  evefithe 
•*  peafaots,  thought  they  could  not  pay  their  ceuri  better,  than  in  placing 
<•  a  large  dunghill  before  ibsu  doors  !  A  powdered  courtier  might  freer- 
*^*  ingly  deny  to  this  economical  attention  a  place  amorgft  the  royal  vjr- 
<'  tae*  I  but  the  fagacioas  monarch  was  fenfible,  that  thefe  dunghills  fpread 
<*  over  the  fields  would  produce  a  c?op  of  doc^tts.  — He  accordirgly  ha^ 
**  the  fatistat^ion  t'^  fee,  after  reigning  Tonne  years^  the  fands  of  the  Mar- 
*'  che  of  Brandenburg,  and  the  heattis  and  moralfes  of  Pruflla,  covered 
with  a  plentiful  harvcft  of  the  fineft  corn  in  the  \7^:Id.— The  king,  hi» 

'  foB,  fapplicd  all  that  was  wanting  to  bring  this  nobie  plan  to  perfection  j 
-'  and  we  have  feen  in  a  very  (hort  fpace  of  time,  the  fandy  def^rr,  thates- 
**  tended  to  the  very  gates  of  Berlin,  converted  into  excellent  land  by  « 
*•  kin'!  of  economical  enchantment,"  (Political  Inllitutes,  by  Baron  Bid- 
feld.  Vol.  i.p.  18O. 

This  monarch  in  the  yrar  1727,  founded  in  the  nnlveffuy  of  Halle,  tbs 
ii\%.  profefforfhip  of  Rural  economy  which  bad  been  feea  in  Europe";  and 
the  example  has  fince  been  happily  copied  in  rcany  other  univeifities  of 
Gerrrany,     F. 

[Without  entering  into  a  wide  detail  of  tae  caufes  which  have  farored 
^l?e  improved  ftate  of  ggricultore  feen  in  fome  parts  of  Germany,  we  may 
obferve  that  fome  cf  the^i  may  have  arifen  from  the  fources  here  m^tiocj- 
ed.  Another  fourc-is  to  be  found  in  the  impofubility  of  gaining  money  by 
fiSTtgation  in  •'.  prircJpal  portion  of  Germany,  Another  a'ifohas  proceed- 
ed from  the  covneclio;^  which  has  fubfi'^cd  betweenAufuia  and  Flanders  j 
jn  confequence of  which  the  latter  has  furnished  to  the  Auftrian  domsnlocjt 
not  only  many  improvements  in  agiiculture,  but  feme  capital  in  monera 

When  improvements  were  efiahl-fhed  ia  fotKC  diilil^^iSj  tbey  gradually  <si-» 
f«flded  thsoifclve*  to  o?bpr?,    E.] 


i6  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

We  fiiall  now  take  a  view  of  the  confequences  of  the 
labors  of  Kliyogg  and  their  agreement  with  the  various 
foils  he  cultivated. 

His  meadow  land  is  all  flat,  and  divided  into  the  fol- 
lowing pieces,  yielding  as  under  : 

Loads.    Aqku 
■An  orchard  (of  v/hich  the  grafs  is  mowed 
and  given  to  the  beads  in  the  (table  dur- 
ing the  fummer.)  _  Q  I 
A  meadow  at  the   bottom,    divided  into 
five  pieces,  which  may  all  be  watered  ^ 
producing  in  hay  and  after-grafs                 12         6 
A  long  meadow,  producing                                 8         4 
Another  in  the  Wlnikin^  producing                 7         4 

27       IS 

m  R,  The  tv/o  lall  require  manure,  asibey  cannot  be  overflowed,* 

He  hires  moreover  in  a  village  adjacent,  a  meadow 
of  three  acres  for  4I.  i6s.  3d.  per  ann.  which  is  already 
greatly  improved. — His  indullry  has  enabled  him  to 
augment  his  crop  of  hay  eight  loads,  which  is  almofl 
one  third. — I  was  curious  to  know  why  the  long  mea- 
dow did  not  funiifli  fo  much  hay  by  a  load  as  that  in  the 
Winikin,  though  their  dimenfions  were  exaiSlly  the 
fame  ?  He  imputed  this  deficiency  to  negled  of  manur- 
ing and  labor,  as  he  had  wanted  time  to  finifli  them 
properly. — It  ought  to  be  obferved,  that  the  hay  was 
commonly  double  the  quantity  of  the  after-grafs. — An 
acre  of  land,  improved  to  the  height,  according  lo  Kli- 
yogg's  computation,  will  require,  for  two  years,  ten 
loads  of  dung,  or  20  tons  of  peat  afliest  ;  and  he 
thinks  the  latter  fort  of  manure  anfwers  by  far  the  bell: 
for  meadows  which  cannot  be  overflowed. 

Laying 

*  Only  4  acres  being  cufr,  this  is  nearly  two  loads  per  acre,    E; 

+  This  proportion  u  a  point  of  confe^aence,  and  (hould  engage  all  faf- 
foers  who  have  the  opportunity  of  getting  peat,  to  make  the  full  ufe  of  (« 
excellent  a  manure.     Y, 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  if 

La,ying  meadow  under  water,  furniflies  2iJecond me^us> 
dF  improving  the  foil  To  extremely  advantageous,  that 
the  difference  is  very  immaterial  between  the  crops  of 
a  meadow  well  v/atered  or  well  manured.*  This,  in- 
deed, greatly  depends  on  the  properties  of  the  water, 
and  the  method  of  condu(3;ing  it  over  the  ground. 
Spring-water  is,  in  Kliyogg's  opinion,  the  befl:  ;  efpc- 
cially  vyhen  it  can  be  procured  immediately  from  the 
fpring  ;  for  he  obferves  that  it  infenfibly  decreafes  in 
virtue,  in  proportion  to  the  diftance, 

I  confefs  that  I  could  affign  no  fatisfa£tory  t  reafon 

for 

*This  is  a  part  of  hufbsndry  (trangely  negMeci  in  England,  but  of  un- 
doubted importance  :  I  experienced  it  in  my  Su0blk  farm,  and  yet  ftrong- 
€r  in  my  prefent  Hertfordihire  one  ;  where  any  perfon  that  will  call  on  me* 
may  fee  the  vaft  difference  between  a  meadow  in  the  parts  watered  and 
unwatered.  I  had  thia  year  (1769)  as  much  hay  fronm  ofFone  watered  acre, 
as  all  the  oifeer  four  unwatered  ones  in  the  fame  field.     Y. 

f  The  difEcuhy  15  not  perhaps  h  great  as  niay  be  imagined,  to  fupport 
this  obfervation  of  Kliyogg's  by  philofophlcal  reafoning.  A  deep  fpring 
prcferves  near  its  fource,  a  temperature  nearly  the  fame  in  all  feafons. 
From  eight  to  ten  degrees  above  freezing,  is,  according  loReauwur's.  ther- 
mometer, the  greateft  variation.  But  a  dream,  wimfe  furface  conftdcrar 
bly  exceeds  its  depth,  will  acquire,  during  the  fummer  folftice,  an  incseafe 
of  heat  in  proportion  to  its  diftancc  from  its  fource.  When  this  is  too 
great,  it  has  been  proved,  that  fjr  from  refi-efhing  the  grafs,  it  turns  it 
yellow  and  infures  it  in  many  refpef^s — It  is  alfo  cuftomary  in  fome  coun- 
tries to  overftow  meadow  land  in  winter,  efpecially  towards  the  fpring  • 
when  the  water  gradually  melts  the  ice  that  may  h?ve  lodged  ;  %!  if  this 
operation  were  left  to  the  aflion  of  the  fun,  the  fiFecis  would  be  too  precip- 
itate, and  prove  highly  pernicious  to  the  young  blades  of  grafs. — One  inar 
rjaturally  conclude,  that  the  water  beft  (lakulaied  for  enriching  a  foil,  hat 
that  degree  of  temperature  already  faid  to  be  inherent  in  water,  near  Tts; 
fovirce  :  and  that  af^ream  which  from  the  length  of  its  courfehas  confid- 
trably  augmented  its  original  heat  or  cold,  according  to  the  feafcn,  nsUft  be 
more  hurjful  than  beneficial.— It  is  alfj  to  be  remarked,  that  water  takea 
near  to  its  fource  prsferves  its  original  purify  ;  while  that  which  paffca 
over  different  lands,  ir.ay  be  inipregaated  in  its  couife,  with  particles  of 
tufo  (or  calcarious  grit-ftone)  or  comrade  a  chaiybeat  or  other  vicious  qual- 
ity, which  may  render  it  injurious  to  the  meadow  over  which  it  is  to  be 
fpread-  On  the  other  hand,  there  may  be  inftances  of  water  being  found 
perniciouB  to  adjacent  rweadows,  but  falubrious  to  thofe  more  reuiOtely 
Ciuaied  5  Orting  tc-  noxious  paiticica;;  vvl;)<.h  it  iray  deDoHt  jn  the  bedfi 
C  ^  of 


28  THE  KVKAL  SOCRATES. 

for  fiich  a  diminution,  but  did  not  think  myfelf  author- 
ized to  difputs  the  truth  of  his  obfervation  ;  having,  on 
all  other  occafions,  found  in  him  thofe  qualities  necefTary 
to  form  the  accurate  obferver  :  namely,  a  facility  in  em- 
bracing luminous  views  of  a  fabjecSt,  joined  to  a  perfc- 
vering  attention  and  an  intire  freedom  from  prejudice. 
I  have  only  to  regret, that  he  is  not  more  anxious  to  pre^- 
fcnt  his  ideas  with  dillinc'tnefs,  and  to  determine  in  all 
his  obfervations  the  preciie  proportions  and  degrees  of 
things.  It  is  fufficient  indeed  for  his  own  purpofes,  to 
have  his  own  conceptions  clear  ;  but  this  perfpicuity, 
which  exifls  only  in  his  own  underftanding,  does  not 
enable  him  to  communicate  exad  ideas  to  others  ; — and 
it  is  in  this  particular,that  natural  genius  difFejs  fromthat 
which  is  f^////t;rt/^^  and  poIiQied  by  art  and  application* 
The  ideas  of  the  perfon  who  poffefles  only  natural  ge- 
nius, are  peculiarly  diflindl  in  his  own  mind,  and  de#» 
Icend  to  the  flnalled:  minutiae  with  great  precifion  ;  but 
the  party  neither  gives  himfelf  pains  to  deveiope  nor  to 
attach  words  to  them.  He  makes  himielf  mafter  of  the 
dimenfions  of  his  obje<rt:,  and  even  retains  them  in  a  for- 
cible, though  at  the  fame  time  a  vague  manner  ;  not 
having  regulated  them  by  any  fixed  meafure  ;  and  there- 
fore the  notions  of  it  which  he  is  able  to  communicate, 
are  always  confufcd  and  incomplete,  and  commonly  lofi 

as 


of  fand  or  gravel  over  which  it  run?,  thus  at  length  becoming  purified.—. 
But  it  does  not  Item  advifeahle  to  oveitiow  any  land  with  fpring  water  ci- 
ther during  the  excefiive  hear  of  uimmer,  or  the  infenfe  cold  of  « inter.— 
Kxcellent  rennarks  on  the  watering  of  lands  are  to  be  met  with  in  a  roe- 
iDorial  which  carried  the  prize  given  by  theEconomical  Society  ot  Berne, 
inferred  in  their  JournaI,VoI.i  i.  (fold  at  Zurich  byHeideggucr  and  Com- 
pany, and  at  Pari-  by  Brocas  and  Hu  ^ibolt  of  St.  Jaqnes  Srrett.)    ^F. 

I'he  Annoracor  here,  in  fpeaking  of  the  temperiKure  of  f.>rings,  forgeta 
that  this  temperature  viiries  in  difif  rent  climares,  elevation'',  and  expo* 
turcs  ;  correfponding,  ^*' it ii  confide rahlc  cxaditefs,  to  the  average  cffedla 
of  the  fnn'ji  hcac  through  ihc  ycai^in  the  vUot  whsrc  ihc  fj^ring  ii 
lound.     E» 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  i^ 

as  to  others.*  I  thought  it  incumbent  on  me  to  engage 
him  to  correal  thefe  defeats.  I  inflriKfted  him  in  the 
method  of  keeping  regular  accounts  of  his  receipts  and 
cxpences.j'  and  recommended  his  fending  one  ofhis  fons 
to  learn  writing  and  arithmetic  :  nor  had  1  any  difficul- 
ty in  making  him  comprehend,  that  by.  particularizing 
every  article  of  labor,  expence  and  profit,  and  marking 
the  progrefs  and  minute  circumflances  which  altend-ed 
his  improvements,  he  would  be  much  better  enabled  to 
form  a  precife  and  adequate  judgment  of  their  value  ; 
whillt  the  wiieft  man  may  fufFer  himfelf  to  be  deceived 
a«5  well  as  deceive  others,  if  he  trulls  to  the  uncertainty 
and  deceitfulnefs  of  memory  .t 

But  it  is  time  to  clofe  this  digreflion,  and  return  to  the 
detail  of  Kliyogg's  obiervations  on  the  watering  of  mea- 
dows.— He  finds  that  water^from  mofTy  grounds  is  very 
injurious  to  greifs,  and  deflroys  it  entirely.  Water 
loaded  witli'  calcarious  grit-ftone,  may  likewife  be  of 
the  worft  confequence  to  a  meadow  ;  fo  that  the  huf- 
bandman  cannot  attend  too  carefully  to  his  v^ater,  oth- 
erwife  his  lands  may  faffer  more  from  overflowing  than 
from  drought.  — Nothing  afcertains  the  falubrity  of  wa- 
ter more  than  the  produ<^ion  of  crefTes,  brookline,  and 
fiicculent  plants.     But  when  a  river  is   choaked  with 

ruflies^ 


*  An  important  praf^ical  remark  ! — Men  inSrufted  by  mhers,  remere- 
l)er  how  they  were  taught.  Men  felf-inftrufted,  where  they  attempt  fo 
explain,  cofniuonly  overlook  fome  efifential  articles  ;  their  own  fyftenns 
being  founded  opoa  a  fort  of  inftinvftive  perfuafion,  or  upon  broken  proofpj, 
rather  than  upon  reguhr  dedudlons.  Few  things  then  belter  mark  2 
knowledge  of  things  and  of  the  world,  or  form  a  more  iroponant  qualifi- 
cation in  a  teacher,  than  an  accurate  meafure  of  the  ignorance  of  othcrgc 
joined  to  a  happy  mode  of  conveying  information,     E. 

f  An  excellent  remark  !  which  cannot  be  too  often  repeated  to  at! 
farmers. — The  experience  arifiog  from  praftical  agrtcultnrc,  bears  no  pro- 
portion to  that  which  is  gained  from  the  regilter  of  pra^iciil  pgricuhurc, 
A  farmer  kno^^s  whether  he  ^rsins  or  lofes,  but  in  vvhai  articles  f  and  in 
what  proportions  ?  How  coj-liafd  li  his  knov?!edge  b  '^hefe  fefpcd^«  !    Y. 


20  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES- 

*  rudies,  fpear-wort,  or'tncfs,  its   water  v/ill  be  de- 
ilr LKftive  to  vegetation. 

The  rules  neceiTary  to  be  obferved  in  fluking  of 
lands,  are,  according  to  Kliyogg,  to  take  particular  care 
that  the  principal  and  dependent  channels,  be  placed  in^ 
a  proper  fituation  to  diftributc  the  water  over  as  much 
of  the  meadow  as  poffiblc.  The  direction  of  the  prin- 
cipal trench  ought  to  run  acrofs  the  mofl  elevated  part 
of  the  ground,  in  order  to  give  a  due  inclination  to  the 
collateral  branches  :  nor  fhould  it  be  cut  too  deep,  which 
would  prevent  the  inundation  from  being  gradually  ex-^ 
tended  over  the  whole  furface.  It  is  likewife  efTentially 
neceiTary  to  (lope  the  trenches  in  fuch  a  manner,  that 
the  water  may  be  carried  off  with  facility,  and  no  part 
remain  ftagnant,  which  would  immediately  occafion 
putrefadlion  :  for  the  turf  being  once  injured,  the  mea- 
dow would  foon  become  fwampy  and  the  grafs  bad.  It 
will  alfo  be  neceffary  to  change  the  trenches  frequently, 
fJling  up  thofe  firfl  made  ;  fo  that  every  part  of  the 
land  may  reap,  in  turn,  bei^efit  from  this  operation.— 
Our  cultivator  confidcrably  augments  the  vegetative 
properties  of  the  water  by  mould,  procured,  as  I  have 
already  aientioned,  from  green  turf  cut  from  eminences 
in  pafture  or  fallow  land.  This  he  throws  into  the  prin- 
cipal head  of  v^^ater,  fo  that  the  lefTer  channels  may  im- 
bibe and  communicate  fertilitv  over  the  meadow. t 


*  This  IS  occaficnci?  Uy  the  feeds  of  mcfiea-snd  rufnes,  which  ths  water 
fpreads  in  its  courfe.  Thofe  of  mofs  foon  rife  and  multiply  exceedingly, 
covering  ;he  furface  of  the  ground  and  entangling  the  fibres  of  the  herbage 
and  grafs,  till  they  are  ftified,  without  fapplyinp  any  nourifhing  food  t^! 
rheir  room  ;  for  mofs  never  rifes  high  enough  to  bz  touched  with  a  fcyihzf 
Or,  if  hay  coold  he  made  of  it,  the  cattle  v/ould  not  eat  it. — To  obviara 
Jihis  misfortune,  cind«<%  and  a(hesraay  be  ftrewed,  which  will  kill  all  kindt 
of  mofs.  And  rufhra  may  be  extirpated  if  they  ere  carefully  diii/tn  ou' 
by  the  roots ;  and  ihc  ground  drained  that  produces  them,     F. 

•i  Thir,  is  a  good  thought  5  but  the  benefit  (on  fo.-^c  foils)  of  caftio? 
vnf/akfdVimz'imo  the  (trcam  woc^ld  be  much  gre:\(cr,  and  ?••.•■",  '  ■:  ; 
.."iL'rh  lefs  cxp*nre,      V, 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  2r 

The  autumnal  grafs,  which  Kliyogg  converts  into 
inanurc,  fupplies  him  with  a  third  method  of  improving 
his  meadow  ;  for  he  thinks  it  very  hurtful  to  the  ground 
to  luffer  cattle  to  graze  late  in  the  year.*  Inde- 
pendently ofthelolsof  fo  mucli  manure,  the  bcafls 
breajk  the  turf;  and  in  a  rainy  feafon,  which  comnionly 
happens  in  autunnn,  the  impre^.on  of  tiieir  feet  forms  (b 
ziiany  ceils  for  the  water  ;  and  this  water  congealing  in 
winter,  greatly  injures  the  roots  of  the  grafs. — This  is 
a  new  proof  of  the  bad  hufoandry  of  maintaining  a  dif- 
proportionate  number  of  horned  cattle,  Vv^hich  occafions 
the  farmer  to  let  them  devour  every  blade  of  grafs  for 
their  fapport,  and  run  the  hazard  of  robbing  the  earth 
of  its  befl  fubflance,  till,  by  degrees,  the  farm  is  en- 
tirely ruined. 

Kliyogg  is  not  fatisfied  with  the  improvement  of  his 
meadows,  but  feeks  to  extend  them  ;  without  however 
deviating  from  his  grand  principle,  never  to  purchafe 
mere  ground,  till  he  has  carried  the  culture  of  what  he, 
pofTeflTes  to  the  highefl;  degree  of  perfection  it  is  capa- 
ble of  attaining.!  How  is  it  poflible,  lays  he,  if  a  cul- 
tivator has  not  been  able  to  cultivate  properly  what  he 
.-^JreadypofTefTes,  that  he  lliould  be  able  to  do  it,  if,  by 
ncreafinghis  pofTeilions,  he  flill  more  overloads  himfelf 
with  care  and  work  ? 

The  fertility  of  an  eftate  is  always  in  proportion  to  the 
culture  bedowed  ;  nay,  it  will  even  be  found,  that  if  a 
IP.sn  doubles  his  number  of  acres,  and  employs  only  the 

fame 


*  This  h  mofl  cxccllenr  advice  :  but  through  vafi:  trafb  of  country  its 
England,  they  fcffer  their  cattle  to  remain  in  the  fields  all  x^intcr,  and  even 
fefd  wiih  hay  ia  thepaRures  ;  there  cannot  t>c  a  more  cxccraWe  fyftcm  of 
conduC't.     Y. 

•f  I  cannot  read  this  work  without  expreffing  my  furprife,  that  a  book 
Hvhich  certaii.ly  contains  resny  ideas  of  culture,  equal,  at  leaft,  to  any  that 
have  been  offered  to  the  public,  fnould  have  remained  fo  long;  unknown  in 
Kngland.  The  nwft  refined  experience  could  not  ftart  a  juder  obferva- 
fion  :  it  is  2  kffjn  to  all  the  firmers  of  every  country  in  the  vvoild.     Y. 


zz  THE  RUQ^L  SOCRATES. 

fame  mimber  of  laboring  hands  as  when  he  had  only 
half  the  number,  that  his  eflatc  will  clear  Jcfs  than  it 
did  before  the  additional  purchafe.  Thus  it  is  evident, 
that  a  tarmer  may  have  too  much  ground,  as  well  as  tuo 
much  Jive  flock. — For  our  conviction,  nothing  more 
is  required,  than  to  take  a  ftirvey  of  an  over-grown 
farm  badly  occupied  ;  where  lands,  with  every  advan- 
tage of  (ituation,  will  not  produce  more  than  a  fourth 
part  of  what  lands  of  the  fame  quantity  and  quality  af- 
ford, divided  into  equal  allotments,  amongfl  the  inhab* 
itants  of  a  populous  village* 

f 
When  Kliyogg  converts  one  of  his  fields  into  a  mea- 
dow, he  always  choofes  the  befl  foil  ;  and  commences 
the  work  by  clearing  it  of  ftones  with  the  utmoft  affidu- 
iity.  He  then  pionglYs  it,  and  gathers  the  ftones  a  fe- 
cond  time  that  lodge  in  the  furrows  ;  harrows  it  over  ; 
and  when  it  is  quite  level  and  all  the  fmall  ftones  pick- 
ed up  in  a  third  gathering,  he  fows  it  with  grafs-feed. — 
Nor  is  he  vcvy  anxious  in  the  choice  of  feed  ;  for  experi- 
ence has  tau^^ht  him,  that  the  difference  of  herbage  de- 
pends entirely  on  the  nature  of  the  ioil  and  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  ground.  The  fame  meadow  that  is  mat- 
ted with  mofs  and  every  kind  of  unprofitable  beggarly 
weeds,  will  produce  trefoil  of  the  bcfl  quality  when 
improved  by  mr^nure,  adapted  to  its  nature."^  In  this 
-  '  inflancCj 

*  Kliyo2;g»  in  this  remark,  difpl^p  hh  real  experrencr.-J  have  offen 
made  the  fatr^e  oblervation  :  (bat  it  fiiouid  he  liaiireil  ;  for  if  the  nature 
oi prrenfiia! ^\:\nX'\  be  bnd,  manuring  will  improve  their  liiicuriance  as  well 
aa  l!iat  of  the  beft  vei^etahies.)  -.The  following  inftance,  mentioned  by  that 
excellent  cultivator  Sir  Dlgby  Legard,  is  a  very  ftrong  proof.  *'  I  havs 
•*  ofren  obferved  flr'lds  covered  with  wiiiteclover.where  pafture  has  preced- 
«*^ed  arable  land,,  withoot  any  perfon's  remembering  the  fowlngofit; 
**  and  often^  in  an  old  worn-out  meadow  or  pafture,  a  crop  of  this  will  ap- 
'<  pear  after  plentiful  dunging. --Thi^  kaCi.  of  the  whiie  clover  fpringing 
f'  in  great  cjunntiiies  on  land,  coploufly  manured,  where  there  was  before 
"  fuch  ri^anuring  no  appearaace  of  it,  is  very  cuiions  :  but  frequent  in 
•*  nonhern  parts  of  Ragland  and  in  Scotland*— -It  is  not  confined  to  manuF- 
**  ing;  \]x\\  divncr  ;  bnj  ihe  fame  rvmt   f-jllowF,  where  ?.  change  of  foil  is 

^.»  raadt 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  23 

inflance,  we  find  a  manifefl  proof  of  the  infinite  wifdom 
and  goodnefs  of  the  Creator.  Let  but  the  hufbandman 
fulfil  his  part  of  the  obligation  by  induflrious  culture, 
and  leave  the  refult  to  Providence.  The  mofl  whole- 
fome  and  nutricious  plants  will  grow  fpontaneoufiy  ; 
the  winds  will  wafc  from  diflant  fields  the  moft  ufeful 
feeds,  which  want  nothing  but  a  proper  bed  to  make 
them  vegetate  ;  vvhilfl  noxious  weeds,  not  finding  fuita- 
blc  nourifhment,  will  wither  for  want  of  the  juices  ap- 
propriated for  them. 

.  Till  lately,  Kliyogg  never  heard  of  artificial  grafTes. 
The  firft  account  of  them  engaged  his  attention.  The 
Philofophical  Society  of  Zurich  remitted  him  fomc 
pounds  of  Flanders  trefoil  feed  {trifQlium  pyatenje  pur- 
piireum  majus.  Ray.  HijI.  944)  requefling  him  to  make 
fome  experiments. — For  this  purpoie  he  prepared  a 
piece  of  ground  near  his  houfe,  in  the  manner  I  have 
defcribed,  and  divided  it  into  two  equal  parts ;  in  one 
he  fowed  the  Flanders  trefoil,  in  the  other  common 
grafs- feeds  ;  both  divifions  were  manured  in  the  lame 
manner  and  carefully  watered^  from  the  ilagnant  pools  , 
and  he  accurately  obferved  the  comparative  produce, 
in  waiting  the  refult,  he  made  feveral  other  trials  of  the 
Flanders  trefoil  in  fmaller  fpots  of  ground  ;  fome  richly 
manured,  otheus  of  the  fame  fize  in  an  unimproved 
ftate. — Thefe  various  experiments  tended  to  convince 
kim  that  this  foreign  trefoil,  like  the  grafTes  common  to 
our  own  country,  was  more  or  lefs  luy-uriant  chiefly  ac- 
cording 

"  made  by  Here  or  maile,  hvl  on  in  great  qir^ntines.  I  hate  an  accoant 
**  by  me  of  an  Dnconnn)on  Ijrge  crop,  no  lefs  chan  thjee  tons  an  a<:rc  heirg 
''produced  at  Ke<'ge!y-]V!oor,  in  Northumbeiland^t  in  confcquencc  of  a 
"  large  qoantiiy  of  lime  being  laid  on  fome  acres  of  black  moor  land  cnv- 
♦*  crcd  wi.h  heaih  :  the  heaih  was  entirely  killed,  and  this  great  btii^hen 
«»  of  whi'e  cl')vcr  fucceeded,  without  any  aifignable  nr.eans  ot  conveyance 
«<  of  the  feed. ..-I  find  from  other  account;',  that  the  fame  commonly  lap- 
4*  pens  in  the  county  of  Galloway,  where  great  quantities  of  fuch  moor 
«  land  have  been  lately  brought  into  caltiv;ition.  Very  copious  manur- 
«<  ing  with  lime,  dung  or  marlc,  appears  there  to  deftroy  the  heath,  and  pro- 
55  du:s  whijc  elavcr,"    McnQirs  sf  A^rkuliurs^  VcK  I.  p.  3^6,     i. 


24  THE    RURAL  SOCPiATES. 

cording  as  the  foil  w?s  more  or  lefs  manured. — In  re^ 
gard  to  the  grand  experiment  to  find  the  difference  of 
produce  from  the  feed  of  trefoil  and  that  of  common 
jgrarfs,  in  ground  where  the  culture  and  preparation  are 
the  fame  ;  Kliyogg  declares  he  cannot  difcern  any  that 
is  material.— -It  is^  much  to  be  wifhcd  that  fenfible  and 
unprejadiced  f  irmers  would  take  equal  pains  in  making 
experiments  on  lucerne,  faint-foin,  and  other  fpecies  of 
exotic  graffes,  whofe  excellepcies  are  fo  highly  extolled 
in  the  prefent  age;  as  by  a  calculation  of  their  jud  advan- 
tages over  our  natural  herbage,  we  (houid  be  able  to 
determine  whether  the  fubflitution  of  them  would  an^ 
wer.  Some  enlightened  friends  of  agriculture  have  al- 
ready informed  me,  that  the  trials  they  have  hitherto 
made, fall  fbort  of  the  defired  fuccefs  ;  and  that  they  find 
at  much  more  profitable  to  continue  the  old  method  of 
hufbandry,  than  to  ufe  thefe  articles  of  modern  difcov- 
ery  ;  for  inflance,  the  Flanders  trefoil  ;  which,  in  ftip- 
plying  a  very  fucculent  nutrition,  excites  cattle  to  feed 
immoderately,  and  occailons  very  alarming  dlflempers.* 

Kliyogg 

.  *  I  fhoull  irr:3ginc  the  only  thing  wanting  to  prevent  this  inconven. 
senoe,  is  a  due  regulation  of  the  quantify  of  irefoil  which  a  beall  may  eat 
\vithout  hazirc?,  and  which  never  ought  to  he  cxeeded.  A  proportion  not 
difScuk  to  afcertain,  «.v!ih  the  afljftanceot  a  little  attention  anHI  experience. 
-r-The  idvaloarh-t  Colleciion  of  ohferiatiofis  hy  the  ^Agricultural  Society  cf 
Britannjy  recorn;  ends,  in  fevera!  places,  what,  to  me,  appears. an  excel- 
lent meihod.  "It  had  been  remarked  by  the  Baron  de  Pontual,  thai  to 
^* fodder  cattle  \s\\S  tfefoil  only,  heated  th'^m  xo^  tt^.Och.  A  native 
**  of  Flanders  taught  hiai  to  temper  this  heat  by  a  very  ufeful  piece  of 
*•  economy. — Arr.ongll  the  Flemings,  where  the  meadows  abound  with 
"this  grafs,  they  make  layers  in  their  hay-lofflj  fix  or  feven  inches  deep, 
••of  {haw  and  trefoil  alternately.  The  ftraw  imbibes  the  fcent  of 
•*  the  trefoil  fo  fuongly,  ^'hat  oxen  and  hcrfes  eat  both,  with  equal 
*•  avidity.  By  this  means  the  value  of  (haw  becomes  equivalent  to  that 
**  of  trefoil,  and  ihe  cattle  are  preferved  fii'ek  and  cool." 

There  h.  great  probflbiliiy  likewife  that  Kliyogg  was  unacquainted  with 
the  l)cU  method  for  the  culture  of  trefoil.  The  fame  Ob/eii.ationi  inform 
tts,  *'  that  it  mcceeded  very  well  when  fo^vjj  with  oats,  which  is  the  laft 
*•  cropin  rotatijii  berue    the  ground  is  fuffered   to    lie  fHllo^.-'-Preft^lent 

wc  MjuiIuc,  'vbo  began  t.Q  wake  cxperiitcRis  in  175S,  has  had  remark- 

*'  ably 


•:,    i 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 


-S 


,,  Kliyogg  made  me  attend  to  a  circnmftance  which 
may  prove  the  deflruiflion  ®f  a  meadow  if  not  corrci^ed. 
This  is  when  the  plantane  is  faiFered  to  predominate  ; 
whofe  large  leaves  fo  totally  cover  the  farface  of  the 
ground,  that  no  other  herbage  can  fpring  up.^  He 
pointed  to  my  obfervation  a  meadow,  where  the  plan- 
tane was  fpread  over  the  foil  and  reduced  it  to  flcrili- 
ty.  -—The  fole  remedy  for  this  evil,  in  his  opinion,  is  to 
plough  up  the  meadow  and  fow  it  with  grain  for  fome 
years  ;  and  afterwards,  in  the  manner  already  defcribed, 
i&  may  be  converted  into  meadow  again. 

Let  us  now  confider  Kllyogg's  hufbandry  in  his  grain 
lands  ;  which,  in  the  diilridl  where  he  lives,  it  is  the 
general  cuftom  to  feparate  into  three  divifions.  Kli- 
yogg  has  fifteen  acres  in  each.- — The  firfl  allotment  is 
for  wheat ;  his  rule  is  fix  loads  of  manure  and  thirty 
bufliels  of  wheat  or  fpeit,t  (which  iall:  grain  he  com- 
monly prefers)  for  each  acre.  The  produce  is,  in  ge- 
neral, more  than  one  hundred  (heaves,  which,  wheti 
thrcrtied,  yield  fix  facks  of  winnowed  grain  .*  th^  Tack 
containing  ten  bufhels,  or  two  coombs  and  a  half.  Thus 
the  clear  profit  of  an  acre  of  land  is  three  maiters,;^ 
twelve  bufliels  of  grain,  and  full  thirty  bottles  (or  bun- 
dles) 

*<  ably  fine  crops  of  oats.  At  ihe  time  \hiy  were  ripe,  the  trefoil  was  in 
<*  great  luxuriancy  below,  about  two  feet  in  height.  The  cKaniire  ilill  re- 
**  maining  in  the  ground  after  the  firft  crops  are  mowed,  and  the  plotjgh- 
*♦  ing  neceffary  for  the  oats  are  equally  beneficial  to  the  treloH.  Kxpe- 
"  rience  has  convinced  hiw,  that  with  only  the  additional  prica  of 
«*  feed,  a  man  may  have,  for  feveral  fucceffive  feafons,  a  rich  meadow  oC 
<•  trefoil,  which  may  be  mowed  in  inoft  years  twice>  and  in  favorable  ones 
**  three  and  four  tioaes.**     F. 

*  This  13  precifely  the  cafe  in  England  ;  but  the  narrow  leaved  plan- 
tane, called  in  the  north  lib  grafs,  is  an  excellent  pafture.     Y.  ^ 

+  Spelr,  a  kind  of  baftard  wheat,  which,  in  a  good  foil,  becomes  genu- 
ine.    Y.        ^ 

:j:  The  Zurich  malter  contains  four  muids.  The  muid  is  divided  into 
four  quarters,  and  when  prefled  down,  weighs  about  125  pounds  cf  ;hc 
SBarc.     F« 

D 


^6  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

dies)  of  ilraw. — The  feconddivifion  is  fowed  either  with 
rye,  beans,  pcafcjor  oats.  The  allowance  is  three  bulhcls 
and  an  half  of  feed  an  acre.  He  gathers  from  this  eighty 
iheaves  an   acre,  which    yield   annually    at   leall  five 

coombs  of  grain  and  forty  bundles  offtraw. The 

third  divifion  remains  fallow.— Kliyogg  has  alfo  fomc 
inclofures,  which  he  fows  every  year.  Thefe  are 
manured  twice  in  three  years,  which  he  is  peculiarly 
careful  never  to  negled  $  conftantly  varying  the  grain 
every  time. 

His  computation  for  ploughing  is,  a  complete  day's^ 
labor  for  two  men  and  four  oxen  for  each  acre.* 

Purfuant  to  the  cuflom  of  the  country^  be  gives  to  the 
firfl  diviiion  three  ploughings  :  namely,  in  the  fpring 
before  the  month  of  May,  immediately  after  hay  fea- 
fon,  and  at  the  endof  harveft. — The  fecond  divifion,  if 
it  does  not  interfere  with  more  material  bufinefs,  and 
can  be  accomplifhed  without  great  inconvefiience,  is 
ploughed  twice;  namely,  at  theconclufion  of  harveft  and 
immediately  before  the  feed-time.— -Light  foils,  fays  he^ 
requite  to  be  lightly  ploughed;  and  on  the  contrary, 
heavy  clayey  ground  fnould  be  ploughed  very  deep, 
that  thefinefibres  of  the  roots  may  infmuate  themfelves 
with  eafe  among  the  particles  of  the  broken  clods  ;  but 
in  a  light  foil,  we  mufl  endeavor  to  preCerve  fufficient 
folidity  for  the  roots  to  flrike. — Wheat  (hoots  ftrongeft 
when  there  is  an  interval  between  the  time  of  plough^ 
jng  and  fovving.  Barley  is  mofl  vegetativ*i  when  fowed- 
immediately  after  the  plough.  Light  lands  are  be  ft  fop 
barley,  but  wheat  thrives  beft  on  a  IViff  foil. 

Kliyogg  likewife  obferves,  that  whoever  is  defirous  of 
conPcantly  plentiful  crops,  (hould  be  fcnfible  how  very 

effential 

*  Thi»  is  a  rei^arkablc  U6{.  I  have,  in  a  former  naffc,  (hewn,  that  a 
Zurich  acre  is  hut  a  liitie  more  ihaii  three  roodsEngllQi ;  confequently  this 
i?  very  pmit  work  tor  four  oxen  to  perform,  efpecially  under  the  eye  of  fa 
inrluflrious  atnan  as  Kliyogg.  I  conclude  from  hence,  that  the  beads  are 
very  mean  cnrs.  I  iifed  oxen  in  Suflfolk,  and  a  fingle  pair  ploughed  m-e 
2n  acre  a  day  withow^  any  eHtraordinary  cxtruon.  They  roll  roc  1 5J.  a 
pair,     \% 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  &y 

effential  it  is,  frequently  to  vary  the  feed  upon  the 
fame  ground.  Thus  he  is  indefatigable  in  the  aearch  of 
new  ;  and  is  Co  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  utility  > 
of  this  rule,  that  he  affirms  that  there  is  ar.  advantage- 
ous difference  in  the  produce,  if  he  buys  iced  at  a  vil- 
lage only  four  leagues  diflant  from  his  own.  This  remark 
is  worthy  the  attention  of  fomc  curious  natidralifl. 

Our  induflrious  laborer  beflows  on  his  arable  lands 
a  kind  of  manure,  whofe  effeiSts  appeared  fingularly 
aflonifhing  to  me,  when  he  took  me  into  one  of  his  in-'' 
clofures  a  little  before  harvefl.  A  third  part  of  this 
'  field,  from  a  deficiency  of  hands  and  leisure  that  year, 
had  been  without  this  manure.  1  Inftantly  perceived, 
though  little  accuflomed  to  thde  minute  obfervations,  a 
very  lerfible  difference  betv,een  that  part  of  tiie  field 
which  had  been  manured,  and  the  other.  Kliyogg  com- 
puted this  difference  to  be  one  thiid  lols  in  the  crop. — 
The  manure  he  made  ufe  of,  v/as  a  fmall  gravel  of  a 
blueifh  hue,  and  bordering  upon  marie  ;  the  foil  en 
which  it  was  fpread  being  a  greafy,  reddifli  fand.  Kli- 
yogg difcovered  veins  of  this  gravel  running  along  the 
lides  of  fome  barren  uncultivated  hills,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood ;  commonly  on  the  fuperficies,  or  a  very  few 
feet  below  it. — In  loading  his  carts,  he  throws  afide  the 
larger  flones,  flrewing  only  th«  fineparton  light  landso 
T^his  is  one  of  his  occupations  on  winter  days  ;  which 
the  generality  of  Jiufbandmen  devote  to  indolence,  or 
at  lead  to  domeflic  engagements  of  fmall  advantagCc 
The  deep  fnow  that  covers  the  ground  during  great 
part  of  the  winter  feafon,  greatly  facilitates  his  woric  by 
the  ufe  of  fledges,  and  confiderably  lelFens  the  fatigue  of 
the  oxen.  I  faw  him  lafl  v/inter  in  high  delight  at  the 
appearance  of  a  fettled  frofl:,  which  gave  him  hopes  of  a 
good  road  for  fledges  for  fome  weeks. — There  feems 
a  great  analogy  between  the  operation  of  this  gravel  and 
that  afcribed  to  marie,  if  it  is  not  indeed  the  produftion 
iDfr.he  marie  itfelf  which  is  difcovcrable  among  the  fmall 

particles 


28  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES c 

pcirticles  of  gravel. — Kliyogg  apprehends  the  falutary 
efFe£ls  of  this  ipecies  of  manure  to  arife  from  the  heat 
communicated  to  the  earth  :  he  alfo  attributes  to  it  the 
virtue  of  extirpating  baneful  herbs,  and  particularly  a 
Icind  of  pjudiculaire  {rhinanthus  chrifia  galli^  Linn.^  a 
plane  fo  deftru6livc  to  barley,  that  when  it  gets  the  ma{^ 
tery  in  a  field,  there  is  little  to  be  reaped. 

By  the  a-riuance  of  this  manure,  Kliyogg  has  convert- 
ed the  worft  land  imaginable  into  excellent  grain  fields. 
He  lately  bought  near  an  acre  cf  flerile  ground  for 
4I.  14s.  6d.  and  hopes  to  make  it  worth  21I.  J7s.  6d. 
within  a  few  years  :  a  thing  by  no  means  improbable,  as 
he  has  already  given  fpccimens  of  equal  improvement, 
on  foils  that  had  beer?  given  up  from  their  barrennefs  or 
diflant  fituation. — Alterations  fo  aftonlQiing,  prove,  in  a 
forcible.manner,  how  much  foundation  there  is  for  his 
afTertion  ;  that  we  ought  to  attribute  it  to  the  lazinefs 
and  unfldifulnefs  of  thepeafants,  Tf  our  country  does  not 
produce  even  a  fuperfluity  of  grain  !  * 

Dreffing  larids  with  this  manure  is  not  a  newdifcov- 
ery  ;  the  negligence  of  the  peafant;s  feems  the  reafon 
why  it  is  not  more  pra<n:ifed. — Thefe  alledgc,  by  way  of 
juftification,  that  they  will  not  pretend  to  difpute  its  ef- 
ficacy for  a  few  years  ;  but  that  after  a  certain  term, 
the  ground  will  be  as  much,  or  rather  more  impoverifh- 
ed,  than  it  was  originally. — We  freely,  in  reply,  grant 
th'e  operation  of  this  manure  to  be  limited  to  fiich  a  pe- 
riod ;  when  it  pught  to  be  renewed,  or  fome  other  to  be 
fubiMtuted  in  its  place  :  but  is  not  this  the  cafe  with 
every  improvement  in  hulbandry  I  It  is  only  as  the 
reward  of  confcant  and  diligent  labor,  that  the  earth 
yields  her  treafurcs  to  man. — Kliyogg  fiipports  all  his 
arguments  on  this  principle,  which  has  never  deceived 
him.  The  fortunate  fuccefs  with  which  heaven  has 
blelTed  his  induflry,  encourages  him,  with  allidiious  ap- 
plication, to  invent  ncv/  operations,  rationally  deduced 
from  new  experiments  in  agriculture. — The  effefe  of 
gravel  led  him  to  this  general  maxim,  that  every  fpecies 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  29 

cf  earth  may  he  'ir.ftriimenial  io  the  improvement  rf  an* 
otker  of  oppojiie  qualities,  .  The  difcovery  therefore  of 
a  ftratum  of  earth  hitherto  unknown  to  him,  is  as  great 
^n  acquifition  in  his  eyes,  as  a  purfe  of  gold  in  thofe  of  % 
niiier. 

Kliyogghas  another  peculiarity  in  the  culture  of  his 
arable  land. — Dirapproving  the  cuftom  of  throwing  it 
into  ridges,  to  prevent  wetnefs  ;  u'hich  not  only  wafies 
much  land,  but  occafions  the  roots  of  the  grain  on  the 
fides  of  the  ridges  to  be  overflowed  as  they  lie  in  the- 
furrows  between  ;  he  thus  remedied  the  double  injury. 
He  changedithefe  furrows  into  trenches  of  the  depth  of 
about  two  feet,  which  he  half-filled  with  large  ftones, 
nnd  then  covered  with  pine  branches  ;  fpreading  the 
earth  tak#n  out  of  the  trenches  over  the  whole. — In 
this  manner  he  regained  lo  much  lofl  land,  and  obtain 
from  it  as  good  grain  as  from  the  reft  of  the  field. '''^ 

By  a  procefs  nearly  refembling  this,  he  has  made  a  ve- 
ry fine  hemp  Held  of  a  piece  of  ground  fituated  in  a  flop- 
ing  bottom,  on  the  lideofagreat  road ,  which,  after 
heavy  rains,  v/as  conflantly  overflowed  by  torrents  com- 
ing from  the  road,  and  had  been  given  ypasuDprofitablCa 

Our  wife  cultivator  has  appropriated  a  pretty  large 
inclofure  to  the  culture  of  vegetables^  fuch  as  French 
beans,  peafe,  cabbages,  &c.  Thefe  fufRcc  for  the  main- 
tenance of  his  family  daring  the  greater  part  of  fummer  ; 
a  branch  of  economy  that  didingaifhes  him  from  the 
peafants  of  that  country  ;  who,  excepting  beet,  culti- 
vate  very  little  vegetable  food  ;  which  obliges  them  to 
confiime  a  much  greater  quantity  of  bread  and  flour, 
and  diminifhes,  in  proportion,  the  only  means  they  have 
of  procuring  money,  fo  neceffary  to  purfuc  their  im- 
provements* 

*This  is  the  famous  njctbod  of  draining  all  fons  of  wet  foils  in  Erg- 
land.  I  da  not  reniember  meeting  before  wiih  any  nsention  of  it  in  th? 
French  authors.  It  is  very  extraordinary  that  ihia  peafant,  enlightened 
only  by  nature,  (hould  unite  in  bis  Hitls  far*!?,  fo  many  o^  ''  '  *:  :  t  rir".!- 
ces  ot  Eoropcan  huibandry  !     Y. 


30     *  THE  RUa\L  SOCRATES. 

provements.  His  children  are  entrufled  with  his  kitch- 
eti  garden  ;  an  eafy  tafk,  adapted  to  their  flrength,  and 
which  trains  them  gradually  to  the  performance  of 
more  toilibme  work. 

I  pafs  over  in  filence,  his  method  for  the  culture  of 
turnips  after  rye  harveft ;   nor  fhall  i  expatiate  an  his 
:  manner  o^ pruning  fruit  trees  ;  as  in  theie  two  articles 
there  is  nothing  uncommon  ; — but  I  ought  not  to  omit 
his  rules  for  ihe   culture  of  potatoes^  as  he  is  the  firfl 
man  in  fhe  village  who  has  made  them  an  effential  ob- 
jetfc  r^^fafctenri  )n  ;  the  other  peafants  being  fatisfied  with 
hav/ing  f  jme  beds  of  thi^m  in  their  gardens.**     The  ex- 
cellent properties  of  potatoes  and  their   great   utility, 
have  given  them,  in  the  opinion  of  Kliyogg,  a  very  de- 
cifive  preference  over  all  other  fruits  of  the  earth.    One 
acre   produces  two  hundred  bufliels.     The.^daily  con- 
fumption  in  his  family  is  one  bufhel,  and  his  economy 
in  this  article  faves  a  ranid  of  wheat  in   the  fpace  of 
three  weeks.     Thus  he  computes  that  twenty  buHiels 
of  potatoes  are  equivalent  to  one  maid  of  wheat.     Ac- 
cording to    this  calculation,  an   acre  planted  with  po- 
tatoes, is  as  profitable  as  ten  muids  of  wheat  ;  whilfl  an 
acre  of  the  beR  land  will  fc^rcely  produce  four  makers 
of  fpelt,  which,  at  the  highell  price,  and  in  the    bell 
jcars,  is  about  the  value  of  fix  muids  of  wheat ;  con- 
fequentiy  the. comparative  value  of  an  acre  of  potatoes 
to  an  acre  of  wheat^  is,  as  ten  to  d)^  ;  a  vtry  elFential 
ifJifference  ! — We  may  likewife  add.,  that  this  root  re- 
mains in  fecurity  under  ground,  free/from  thofe  dangers 
to  which  plants  and  grains  are  expofed  from  the    varia- 
tions of  feafons.     Neither  the  nipping  frofts  in  fpring, 
Tior  fnow,  nor  hail,  which  fo  frequently  difappointf-  and 

deftroy 

*The  culture  of  potatoes  is  in  a  manner  recent,  antl  this  part  of  thej 
Iliiral  Socrates  wag  written  Haifa  century  ago.  What  appears*  therefore, 
;'^ther  miftaken  or  common  in  the  text,  nnuft  be  cxcufed.     E. 

f  Yet  there  are  inftances  where  a  h;iIl-ftorra  has  injured  the  green  flalks 
»yove  the  groimtl,  Ik  fore  the  potatoes  were  arrived  at  a  certain  degree  o^ 
gnaturity  J  which,  by  preventing  farther  growth,  deftroycd  the  •rop  --^ 
feet  this  i«  very  rare.     F. 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  si 

Ic/lroy  the  labors  of  the  hufbandman,  can  injure  the 
growth  of  potatoes. — In  promoting  their  culture  we  find 
a  new  refource  againft  national  alarms,  and  a  well- 
grounded  hope  that  better  rural  economy,  may,  by  de- 
grees, releafe  us  from  that  dependence  on  our  neighbors, 
the  unavoidable  confequence  of  our  prefent  fituation. — 
Let  the  culture  of  potatoes  once  become  general,  the 
induflrious  peafant  will  procure,  from  a  very  imall  piece 
of  ground,  a  comfortable  fubfiftence  for  his  family  ; 
nor  will  he  be  liable  to  diraj:>pointment  even  in  the  n7oit 
unfriendly  years.  He  will  cultivate,  within  a  trifle,  the 
fame  t^uantiiy  of  arable  land,  and  will  be  able  to  carry 
to  market  the  pf  ofits  of  his  harvcfl  almoin  entire  ;  whilfl, 
before  this  dilcovery,  he  expended  a  very  confiderable 
part  in  his  houfhcld.  This  advantage  is  fo  manifcfl/ 
that  the  culture  of  potatoes  is  already  common  in  many 
diftriills  of  Switzerland,  particularly  in  thofe  whole  vi- 
cinity to  the  Alps  expofes  them  mofl  to  the  inclemency 
of  winter. — I  apprehend  it  will  not  be  thought  an  ufe- 
I'efs  procefs,  if  wc  enter  into  a  circumflantial  detail  of 
Xliyogg's  huibandry  in  this  cfTential  branch. 

When  be  has  fele<aed  a  proper  fpot  of  giound,  it  is 
prepared  in  autumn  by  ploughing,  after  firfl  ipreading 
over  it  fome  tumbrels  of  marley  gravel  ;  efpccially  if 
the  foil  is  fubje^l  to  weeds,  Towards  the  following 
fpring,  he  hys  ten  loads  of  manure  on  an  acre,  and 
ploughs  a  fecond  time. — He  then  fets  the  potatoes  in  the 
turrows,  two  or  three  together,  leaving  a  foot's  fpacc 
betwixt.  The  very  large  ones  may  be  cut  in  pieces. — • 
His  allowance  is  ten  bulhels  an  acre. — Thus  planted,  the 
ileld  is  covered  again  with  manure,  and  left  in  that  flats 
fifteen  days  ;*  when  it  is  ban  owed  over. — A  dry  feafoor 
is  judged  beA  for  planting,  as  it  is  more  likely  to  kill  the 
weeds  which  are  diflodged  ;  for  the  luccefs  of  potatoes 
chiefly  depends  on   the  afllduity  of  the  hufbandman  itx- 

cleaning 

*  TIftj  operation  is  prcbaUrf  deigned  to  prevent  i)b«  C.anltjg  i^jf 


3^ 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES* 


cleaning  the  ground. — For  this  reafon,  great  attention  is 
required  when  the  leaves  of  the  potatoes  (lioot  half  a 
foot  above  the  furface,  to  have  it  carefully  weeded. — 
When  this  is  done,  Kliyogg  waters  them  from  his  pools. 
ff  a  frefh  crop  of  noxious  plants  ariies,  a  fecond,  and  of- 
ten athird  w^eeding  is  beftowed. — In  the  autumn,  about 
a  fortnight  after  leed-time,  the  potatoes  are  drawn  out 
of  the  ground.  He  begins  to  gather  in  his  harvcflby 
cutting  the  tops  clofe  to  the  ground  ;  if  this  can  be  done 
a  month  fooner  it  anfv*^ers  much  better^  he  thinks,  by 
fupplying  the  cattle  with  wholcfome  and  well  tadcd 
forage.*'  The  ground  is  then  flirred  with  a  pitch- fork 
to  loofen  the  potatoes,  v*'hich  are  gathered  in  balkets, 
and  carried  home  in  facks. 

When  the  crop  Is  carefully  got  in,  the  tillage  is  re- 
peated ;  and  in  following  the  plough,  a  great  number 
of  potatoes  that  lie  in  the  ground  are  gathered  up.  Ic 
is  then  fowed  with  barley  or  rye  ;  and  when  the  har- 
row paOes  over,  there  is  a  fecond  gleaning  of  potatoes^ 
v/hich  are  fiill  immerous.  Nor  is  it  poffible  with  the 
Mtmofl  care  to  prevent  many  from  flill  remaining,  which 
jnufb  be  drawn  out  as  foon  as  the  tops  appear.— -Kliyogg 
is  convinced  by  much  experience,  that  the  crops  of  rye 
are  as  good  when  fovtn  after  potatoes,  as  in  fields  where 
there  has  been  only  grain. — The  fame  land  may  be  al* 
lotted  the  third  year  either  to  potatoes  or  wheat.  Kli- 
yogg gives  the  preference  to  the  former  ;  and  approves 
of  planting  them  alternately,  in  all  his  fields  defigned  for 
grain  ;  from  a  convidion  that  the  culture  they  require 
contributes  greatly  to  meliorate  the  ground  by  the  ex- 
tirpation of  weeds,  and  that  varying  the  produdlion  in- 
creafes  the  fertility. 

Kliyogg, 

*  However  wholefome  if  may  be,  it  Is  by  no  means  well  tafted  :  and  I 
know  from  expedience,  that  C;jttlc,  vvhilethey  are  fupplied  wich  the  co,m- 
r>cn  Cons  of  food,  vvill  not  touch  them.  Y,  Horned  cattle  devout  ihcm 
in  the  Douhcro  parwef  theUoitedStares.     E, 


t^HE  RURAL  SOCRATES*  ^f 

:  Kliyogg,  as  I  have  already  obfervedj  allows  his  fami- 
ly a  buQiel  of  potatoes  each  day.  They  are  boiled  till 
fufficieirtiy  fbft,  and  brought  to  table,  wliere  each  per- 
fon  peels  his  own  fhare,  and  eats  it  with  fait :  fometimes 
they  ftew  them,  taking  care  to  pare  them  f:rl"t,  as  the 
cows  and  pigs  find  the  parings  very  acceptable. — ^Our 
hiifbandman  determined* to  try  if  bread  could  be  made 
of  potatoes,  but  had  no  fuccefs  Vt^hilft  he  ufed  no  other 
ingredient  ;  but  with  the  addition  of  fome  of  the  flour 
with  which  they  made  houfhold  bread,  they  anfwered 
his  purpofe.  His  method  is  as  follows  :  Pare  and  cut 
them  into  the  kneading-trough  ;  pour  in  boiling  water 
enough  to  cover  them  5  bruife  them  till  thoroughly 
fmooth  :  neither  time  nor  pains  fliould  be  fpared  to  per- 
fedl:  this  operation,  becaufeit  is  efTential  to  the  msk'wg 
of  good  bread,  that  there  be  no  lumps.  They  fome- 
times with  the  common  dough  take  equal  parts  of 
raafheJ  potatoes,  fometimes  a  third  or  fourth  part :  the 
bread  mufl  be  exceedingly  well  kneaded,  and  is  then 
\ery  excellent.  Nor  is  it  found  lefs  noiTrifliing  or  in- 
vigorating to  the  conflitution  than  when  made  entirely 
of  wheat. — Kliyogg  dried  fome  potatoes  in  an  oven,  and 
then  had  them  ground,  in  order  to  fee  if  the  flour  would 
make  bread  witlxout  wheat  ;  but  hitherto  the  experi- 
ment has  been  unfuccefsful.*  To  iinifh  the  circum- 
Aantial  defcription  I  purpofed  giving  of  Kliyogg's  huf- 
bandry,  there  li ill  remains  ail  account  of  his  paflurage 
and  woods  o 

P^fl lire  ground^  in  this  country,  is  fcattered  amongfh 
the  woods  in  detached  pieces.     The  foil  is  in  general 

extremely 

*  Potatoes  are  one  of  the  nftoft  va'uab'e  prcfsnts  wz  Iisve  received  frora 
{b.t  new  worU. — They  furnifii  the  country  people  with  3  pleafant,  whoie- 
ibme,  nutritious  kind  of  aliment,  favorable  to  pppalation.  A  great  pare 
of  German  Lorraine  finds  in  them  a  confiant  fjpport ;  and  the  young 
villagers  there  are  ftout,  well-fnadc,  and  of  exceeding  robuft  conflitutions, 
I  have  fcldom  ieen  diftempcrs  amcngft  foldier?,  when  they  had  putatoea  lo 
bcil  iu  their  kettle,    F, 

E 


34  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

eKtremely  bad,  and  the  cattle  find  but  little  fudcnance 
from  its  natural  produce  of  rattle- grafs,  inilk-thiftle, 
^c. — There  is  great  probability  that  thefe  fpots  of 
ground  v/ere  formerly  covered  with  wood,  which  has 
been  felled  ;  and  that  according  to  the  pernicious  cu^- 
torn,  too  prevalent  in  Switzerland,  cattle  were  imme- 
diately turned  in  to  feed.  Thus  the  tender  (lioots  which 
%ould  have  fprouted  again,  and  produced  frefh  trees, 
have  been  nibbled  or  broken  down  by  the  beafls,  till  by 
degrees  the  woods  became  totally  deftroyed  ;  iTnd  thefe 
grounds  thus  dripped,  have  been  appropriated  to  paf- 
turage. — I  have  taken  notice  of  the  little  advantage  ufu- 
ally  reaped  from  them,  when  I  mentioned  the  exertions 
of  Kliyoggin  augmenting  his  compofl  dunghill.-— He  at 
Urd  treated  his  pailiures  like  other  peafants  ;  fowing 
them  with  wheat  every  (ixth  year,  and  every  feventh 
with  oats  :  at  all  other  times  the  cattle  grazed  there. 
But  he  was  foon  (enfible,  that  by  perfeverance  and  affidu- 
ous  labor,  a  much  more  confiderable  advantage  might; 
be  gained  by  turning  them  into  fruitful  corn-fields  frtr 
grain.  This  was  a  long  time  obliged  to  be  omitted  for 
^want  of  laboring  hands  ;  and  the  greater  proximity  of 
l>is  other  grounds  prefcnted  fo  many  immediate  objedL;^ 
of  cultivation,  that  he  could  fcarcely  devote  a  moment 
to  his  paflures.  It  is  only  fmce  his  children  have  made 
a  beginning  to  affifl:  him,  that  he  has  applied  his  indus- 
try tovvards  this  improvement. — The  firfl:  ilep  is  dig- 
ging a  ditch  of  about  three  or  four  feet  broad  and  two 
or  three  deep  round  each  pallure  ;  cading  the  earth 
In  the  form  of  a  parapet  bank,  which  remains  two 
years  in  that  Hate,  expoled  to  the  weather  :  it  is  then 
made  ufe  of  to  fpread  on  the  moil  barren  fpots  of  the 
pallure,  and  to  fill  up  fmall  inequalities  of  ground  ;  and 
^here  there  are  large  holes,  he  fills  them  with  ftones 
before  he  covers  them  with  mould.  The  land  is  then 
dreiTed  with  marley  gravel  and  manure,  according  to 
the  rules  obferved  in  his  fields  for  grain  ;  and  it  is  lo 
-im^'iiingly  improved,  that^  ia  general,  it  affords  his  beft 

crops, 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  35 

crops,' which  he  takes  care  to  vary. — One  of  thefc  paf^ 
tures  he  has  made  uie  of  for  hemp  ;  and  it  is  well  known 
that  the  bed  foil  is  always  feleded  for  this  purpofe.— 
He  delights  more  in  this  part  of  his  eftate,  becaufe  he  is 
at  liberty  to  farm  it  as  he  pleafes,  without  thofe  reflric- 
tions  which  confine  him  to  cftablifhed  cuftoms  in  the 
culture  of  lands  dependent,  in  fome  refpeds,  on  the 
Village  of  Wcrmetchweil. 

Five  acres  of  this  pafture  knd,  which  lie  mod  conti- 
guous to  his  IVoods^  are  fet  afide  for  planting. — He 
leaves  to  nature  the  care  of  fowing  pines  and  firs  ;  not 
having  been  able  as  yet,  to  gain  proper  information  in 
reg^ard  to  planting  trees  ;  aipecies  of  knowledge  with 
which  our  country  is  unfortunately  little  acquainted. 
Woods  in  Switzerland  are  regarded  as  wild  uncultiva- 
ted jpots,  fclf  fown,  and  requiring  no  other  attention 
than  to  cut  them  down  at  a  proper  age. — To  this  falfe 
.prejudice,  the  offspring  of  indolence  and  ignorance,  we 
may  attribute.thatfcarcity  of  wood  for  fuel,  which  is  more 
lenfibly  apparent  every  day. — I  remarked  jujfl  now,  that 
the  pafturage  dependent  on  the  village  of  Wcrmetch- 
weil, had  its  origin  from  new-felled  parts  of  the  forefb, 
which  the  cattle  had  rendered  incapable  of  bearing  far- 
ther wood,  by  wounding  the  young  (hoots. — To  the 
fame  caufe  i.s  ovv^ing  thofe  defart  trads,  fometimes  of 
confiderable  extent,  which  are  to  be  met  with  in  our 
forefls,  in  places  where  the  foil  and  expofure  are  re- 
markably favorable.  Happy  (liould  I  be,  were  I  capa- 
ble of  awakening  th,c  attention  of  my  countrymen  to  an 
objet^  fo  efTential  to  public  utility,  where  ncgle£t  will, 
in  time,  infallibly  be  produ<5live  of  ruin. 

Kliyogg  beflows  a  kind  of  culture  on  his  woods ;  but 
Avith  a  viev/  very  different  from  what  1  fpeak  of.  His 
prime  motive^  as  evidently  appears,  is  the  increafe  of  ma- 
nure ;  for  which  purpole,  he  colleds,  with  the  utmofl 
indudry^fmall  branches  of  pines  and  firs,with  dead  leaves 
and  mofs.  It  is  with  thi^  view  alfo,  that  he  carefully  roots 

out 


3^  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

0ut  all  weeds,  ventilates  the  young  (hoots,  and  firips  his 
trees  from  time  to  tunc  of  branches,  almoft  to  the  top  ; 
a  method  which  contributes,  in  no  fraail  degree,  to  ac- 
celerate the  growth  of  the  trees  and  augment  the  beauty 
of  their  trunk.  The  neighboring  farmers  reject  this 
manner  of  treating  trees  as  extremely  prejudicial  ; 
jbut  Kliyogg  troubles  himfelf  but  very  little  about 
their  approbation,  fo  long  as  he  is  convinced  that  his 
pines  and  firs  are  equal,  and  often  fuperior  in  growth 
jtotliofe  of  his  neighbors.- — It  iriuft  be  allowed,  that,  on 
the  firll  view,  his  woods  appear  thinner,  from  the  open- 
ings vifiblie  between  the  trunks  where  the  branches  are- 
taken  off  •  but  after  a  more  accurate  examination,  I 
found  his  opinion  well  founded.  I  did  not  fee  one  fm- 
gle  young  fir  that  Teemed  withered  and  decayed, 
though  t,he  branches  cf  ail  were  confiderably  lopped. — 
He  made  experiments  Ibme  years  fince  how  far  he  might 
carry  the  operation  with  fafecy  :  he  reduce^^i  the  branch- 
es of  fo  many  trees  as  thfe  compafs  of  a  quarter  of  an 
acre  afforded,  leaving  only  three  knots  on  any  ;  the 
trunks  were  from  fix  inches  to  a  foot  in  circumference^ 
He  did  not  lole  more  than  four  trees  ;  the  refl,  to  fpeak 
truly,  were  a  longer  time  than  ufual  in  making  their 
fhoois,  but  they  afterwards  grew  as  vigoroufiy  as  oth- 
ers. Kliyogg  oblerved  that  every  year  produced  a  new 
head  to  the  fir  tree,  till  it  arrived  at  its  pcrfedion  ;  he 
inferred  that  the  lower  circle  might  be  taken  off  every 
year  without  injury  to  the  tree  ;  and  that  if  pruning  had 
even  been  omitted  feveral  years  together,  the  fame  num- 
ber of  circles  might  be  taken  off  with  confidence.^  I 
know  this  pracftice  is  cbntraditftory  to  the  generally  ef- 
tabliflied  theory  of  the  vegetation  of  trees,  and  the  ex- 
periments of  the  mofl:  difcinguiflied  naturalifts  of  the 
prefcnt  times  (fuch  as  Kales,  Bonnet,  and  du  Haniel  ;) 

who ' 

*  This  method    of  pruning  fir-trees  I  have  hefore  heard  cf  afif'wering 
greatly  :  but  how  Kliyogg's  pruning  his  woods  for  manure  can  be  advan- 
tageous I  can  conceive  only  by  fuppofing  the  Swifs  woods  and  our  Eoglifii 
>0'<      Qn?s  totdlly  diffcient.     Y, 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  37 

who  have  demonflrated  that  trees  receive  their  princi- 
pal nQurifhmcnt  from  the  humid  particles  with  which 
the  air  is  impregnated,  and  which  the  leaves  draw  in  by 
futftion. — Yet  the  fuccefs  of  thefe  experiments  made 
by  Kiiyogg,  feems  to  point  out  one  exception  at  leafl, 
in. favor  of  fnch  aromatic  and  refinons  trees  as  have 
fpines  inflead  of  leaves,  which  may  be  pruned  with  lefs 
hazard  than  other  woods.  I  acknowledge  that  there 
has  not  been  fufficient  time  for  a  courie  of  experiments 
capable  of  eflablifiiing  this  as  a  rule  ;  but  at  the  fame 
time  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the  opinion  of  a  man, 
who  difplays  in  fo  many  inftances  the  greatefl  difcern- 
jnent,  and  whofe  obfervations  are  fo  totally  free  from 
prejudice,  merits  a  degree  of  attention  which  may  ani-^ 
mate  us  in  the  purfuit  of  more  ample  difcoveries.* 

Thus 

*  The  rea<3er,  perhaps,  will  not  be  difpIeafeJ  with  o^fervirg  the  agree- 
ment between  what  is  faid  above,  on  the  nature  and  culture  of  trees,  with 
forre  paffages  drawn  from  the  article  /^rhre  (irce)  in  the  Encyciopedie, 
f*  The  roots  of  tree*,  and  cf  plants  in  general,  ire  analogous  to  the  ftomach 
"  animals.  It  is  there  the  firft  and  principal  preparacion  of  the  juices 
•*  picurs.** 

*♦  The  culture  of  a  tree,  by  pruning  away  part  of  its  branches,  contri- 
"  buies  more  than  any  other  method  of  induitry  to  their  luxuriancy  ;  fo 
•*  that  it  may  be  trcly  faid,  the  more  limbs  they  retrench  in  vegetable 
"  life,  to  a  certain  point,  the  more  they  multiply.  Thofe  who  have  never 
•*feen  a  tree  entirely  ftripped  of  its  branches  to  the  very  root,  will  ccnfider 
<*  it  in  this  mangled  lUte  as  incapable  of  recovery,  and  fit  only  to  be 
**  hewn  down  :  yet  if  an  oak,  sn  gIoi,  a  poplar,  or  any  tree,  uhofe  trunk 
<'  rifes  in  a  perpendicular  diredion,  is  firipped  of  its  branches  from  top  to 
«*  bottom,  it  will  throw  out  from  the  loweft  amputated  parts  to  the  top,  an 
<•  infinite  number  of  buds  every  where  ;  which  burfting  into  leaves  round 
<♦  a  trunk  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  height,  form  a  clothing  of  thick  branches 
**  that  almoft  conceals  the  body  of  the  tree. — In  the  fame  manner,  a  per- 
f*  fon  who  firft  beholds  a  tree  that  has  loft  its  head  by  a  hurricane,  or  an 
**  axe,  clofe  to  the  neck  of  ihe  branches,  wcuKi  narurally  conclude  for  fix 
*'  monihs  after,  that  it  was  a  dead  trunk,  whcfe  vegetation  could  never  be 
**  renewed.  But  how  great  the  furprife  toobferve  a  tree  in  rhefc  circum- 
<*  (dances  (booting  forth,  below  the  wounded  part,  a  profuuon  cf  young 
<^'  branches  that  form  another  head !  This  (hews  the  almoft  inexhaufliblc 
<»  refourccs  of  vegetable  nature!  For  it  may  be  confidently  afferted,  thas 
'^'  from  the  extremity  of  the  branches  to  the  root  ef  th€  tree,  there  is  no 

**  perceptible 


38  THE  RUPX.AL  SOCRATES. 

Thus  far  may  be  afHrmcd  with  certainty  ;  that  th€ 
roots  fiipplythe  tree  with  a  vaft  coIle£lion  of  nutritious 
]uices,  which  are  communicated  through  proper  tube$ 
to  all  the  branches,  whether  their  number  be  great  or 
fniall.  If>  then,  according  to  the  method  propofed,  th$ 
number  of  branches  are  conliderably  diminiQied  by  an- 
nual prunings,  this  coIle(9:lon  of  lap  will  be  employed 
almofl  entirely  to  the  benefit  of  the  trunk  itfelf  ;*  and 
:i  tree  that  is  pruned  with  difcretion  at  a  proper  feafon, 
will  increafe  in  llze.— I  obferve  farther,  that  the  efFe^Sl  of 
a  conftant  attention  to  clearing  the  foil  from  weeds,  is, 
the  trees^ throwing  up  a  vaffc  number  of  fuckers  ;  where- 
3.3  in  the  fame  foil,  when  covered  withmofs  and  briars^ 
the  young  twigs  are  fo  entangled  that  few  can  make 
'  their  way  ;  and  thefe  fuckers  furni(h  a  perpetual  fupply 
cF  materials  proper  for  manure  ; — fo  that  Kliyogg  re- 
gards his  woods  as  refources  fo  much  the  more  valua- 
ble, as  he  draws  annually  from  every  a^re  tv/o  loads  of 
litter  for  his  ilalls. 

The  more  attentively  I  examine  the  economical  iyf- 
lemof  our  rural  philofopher,  which  I  have  endeavor- 
ed to  explain,  the  rnorc  I  am  confirmed  in  my  opinion, 
that  if  we  are  not  fupplied  at  home  with  grain  for  our 
fubfiflence,  it  ought  much  lefs  to  be  imputed  to  the  (le- 
rility  of  the  foil  ;  than  to  falfe  maxims  introduced,  co- 
operating with  the  floth  and  inattention  of  our  hufband- 
n3en. — I   conclude  farther,  tlut  the  heavy   weight  of 

debt' 


«  perceptihle  fpace  that  ilots  not  enclofe  a  portion  of  erabryo  life  ready  to 
**  appeir,  whenever  the  fituation  of  the  tree  requires  an  extraordinary  ex- 
•<  eftion  of  the  fecret  fprings  of  vegetation."     F. 

*  Erg  1,  cut  a  man's  arms  off  and  you  will  Increafe  his  height  amazing«> 
ty  f  — -In  theory,  ani!  according  to  my  obfervation,  all  this  reafoning  is 
falfe.  How  comes  it  that  pollard  trees  (thofe  whofe  heads  are  regularly 
cut  off  for  faggotf)  do  nor  near  equal,  even  in  girt,  good  timber  one*  l' 
Even  the  fize  they  doattainis   defotrocd  and  odious.     Y. 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  39 

Jcbt  under which  many  of  the  peafants  fink,  is  not  an 
infurmountable  objeiTbion  to  the  re  eflablKhment  of  agri- 
culture. We  have  Teen  in  the  inflance  before  us  an 
cflate,  whofe  appearances  denounced  ruin  and  decay, 
having  few  natural  advantages,  and  being  loaded  with  a 
confiderable  mortgage  :  yet  in  a  few  years  improved  to 
a  height  almofl:  incredible,  and  yielding  very  near  dou- 
ble the  crops  of  grain  and  hay  which  it  formerly  pro- 
duced. 

Some  of  KHyogg's  neighbors,  who  are  far  from 
being  partial  in  his  favor,  have  afTured  me,  that  when 
he  engaged  in  his  undertaking,  the  lands  which  be- 
longed to  him  were  ranked  among  the  worft  ;  and  thab 
now;  in  proportion  to  their  extent,  they  always  produce 
tlie  finefl  crops  in  that  divifion.  They  iikewife  regard- 
ed his  enterprise,  as  I  have  before  obferved,  as  themofl: 
rafh  imprudence,  which  could  not  fail  in  a  very  iliort 
time,  to  involve  the  tv/o  brothers  in  dedruclion  ;  and' 
they  expe<Sled  their  bankruptcy  every  day.  This  con- 
clufion  was  not  altogether  the  refult  of  envy,- which  is 
ever  ready  to  calculate  the  poiribillty  of  another's  ilr 
fortune. 

I  am  greatly  miflaken  if  all  indifrerent  perfcns  would- 
not  have  pronounced  the  fame  fcntence  on  the  follcvv- 
ing  queflion  : — Whether  a  family,  confiding  of  four 
parents  and  eleven  fmall  children,  could  be  comfortably 
Supplied-  with  the  neceffaries  of  life  from  an  eflatc 
Icarcely  valued  at  875I.  which  mufl  pay  annual  interefl: 
for  547 1.  6s.  ?  A  quef!:ion  which  the  event  has,  ho^v- 
ever,  determined  in  favor  of  the  proprietors,  thanks  to 
the  a(ftivityand  wifdoni  of  this  extraordinary  man. 

I  will  endeavor  to  render  the  fadl  (till  ftsoi) gcr  by 
calculation  ;  in  hopes  of  exciting,  as  far  as  I  am  able^ 
the  emulation  of  all  good  farmers. 

Fifteen  acres  fown  with  wheat,  produced  1500 
flieaves  ;  which,  at  the  rate  of  ioo Theaves  to  iixty  buih- 
els  of  iinwinnowed  corn,  yield  50  malters  4.  bafncls. 

The 


40  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

The  price  of  wheat  in  Switzerland  is  at  leaft  17s.  6do 
the  maker  5  Co  that  the  whole  produdl  amounts 
to*  ^.48     4     4 

Fifteen  acres  Town  with  rye,  at  five  muids 
an  acre,  yielded  75  muids,  which  at 
8s.  pd.  the  muid,  is  32   16     3 


Total  reimburfement 


The  tytheofthe  fields  of  wheat,  amount's  £.  s,  a, 

to  4  18  6 

The  tythe  of  feveDty-fivc  muids  of  rye  is  3     5  7 
Kine  maJters,  fix  bufhels  of  wheat  for  leed, 

(allowing  ten  bufliels  per  acre)  8     3  9r 
Thirteen  muids  of  rye  for  feed  for  15  acres, 
(allowing  three  budiels  and  an  half  per 

acre)  5^3  9 

Interefl  of  5-47!.  6s.  at  4  percent.  21   17  6 

Rent  of  a  meadow  4   16  3 
Seven  tumbrils  of  ftable  manure,  and  fix 

tGtis  of  turf  afties  s     5  g 


Total  expence  50   19     i 

Clear  profit  30     i     & 

8i  o  7 
If  I  have  omitted  the  wheelwright,  the  collar-maker, 
the  farrier,  in  the  articles  of  expence  ;  I  have  likewife 
omitted  the  profits  arifmg  from  the  wafte  ground  con- 
certed into  good  ploughed  land  in  the  article  of  reim- 
burfement ;  which,  as  I  have  already  obferved,  produ- 
ces grain,  potatoes,  hemp,  and  a  variety  of  vegetables 

for 

*  As  I  am  unacouaintecl  with  thcfe  meafures,  we  mufl  confult  the  pfo- 
po/tions.— Thefe  15  acres  are  aliout  lof  Englifu,  which  producing  48I. 
4%  4^.  is  at  the  rate  of  4I.  lis.  8d.  per  acre  :  a  conQderable  produce  for 
fo  frtMll  a  fi^rm  lo  yield  ; — but  we  muft  attribute  it  to  the  induftry  of  it? 
excellent  culiivator  and  his  ample  ryi^rvjri:  g^  —Th?  rvi?  is  l\,  y.  6:1.  ps! 
"iCfe,  whi':h  ia  a  g?od  crop,     Y< 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  4? 

for  the  ufe  of  the  table.  His  orchard  likewifc  fupplies 
him  vvith  fruit,  his  cows  with  milk  and  butter,  his  hogs 
with  bacon. — An  accurate  examiner  of  this  ^flimate  will 
obferve,  on  the  other  fidcj  the  apparent  hazard  t© 
hufbandman  of  unavoidable  ruin,  by  engaging  in  the 
improvement  of  an  eftate  fo  badly  circumftanced,  had 
he  not  been  endowed  with  intelligence  and  a<5livlty.~ 
Thefe  waflc  and  uncultivated  fields  would  fcarcely  have 
afforded,  in  the  mod  plentiful  years,  to  an  idle  unfkilfui 
farmer,  the  moiety  of  Kliyogg^s  harvefl  ;  whilfl  more 
money  would  have  been  expended  for  the  payment  of 
laborers,  than,  according  to  the  above  calculation,  he 
received  in   profit. 

The  furplus  profits  of  the  year  are  always  employed 
by  Kliyogg  in  Imprcrvements,  or  in  the  purchafe  of  land. 
This  he  regards  as  more  advantageous )  than  liquidating^ 
the  mortgage  upon  his  eftate.;  fince  he  makes  much 
more  intereft  by  employing  4I.  7s.  6d.  in  agriculture^ 
than  the  four  per  cent,  he  pays  ;*  and  he  confiders  the 
reciprocal  convenience  it  is  to  a  rich  citizen  to  have 
his  money  on'  landed  fecurity*  The  only  trouble  it 
gives  him,  is  the  making  his  annual  payments.— Senfible 
that  the  time  approaches,  when  the  health,  firength,  and 
vigor  of  his  children  will  lend  ailiflance  to  his  labor,  all 
his  plans  tend  towards  aggrandizing  his  eflate  ;  that  his 
polierity  may,  by  his  example,  be  animated  to  procure, 

by 

*  This  tnaxlai  of  condu^,  which  is  fo  very  unufnal  in  economical 
liarnds,  fhews  the  ftrength  of  Kliyogg's  ideas. — It  is  the  misfortone  o? 
thofe  who  fee  an  objedt  but  in  one  ligiir,  who  regard  the  paying  of  mort- 
gages as  the  fixft  aioi  ;  to  apply  their  money  to  an  intereft  cf  four  or  live 
per  cent,  when  they  might  eafily  coainiand  ten  or  twelve.  The  one,  it  is 
true,  is  an  uncertain,  the  other  a  certain  iDcome  ;  but  how  cotne  fpiriterl 
improvers,  manufa<5tursrs,  merchant?,  &c.  to  trade  on  borrowed  roonty  f 
Not  becaufe  fuch  a  condud^is  totally  Iree  from  objeftions,  but  hecaufe  tho 
advantages  more  than  balance  fuch  obje^ions.  That  rnind  which  beholds 
nothing  but  difficulties  and  obje^ions  ii  isean  and  goi;tra^ed  ;  it  i*  a« 
liabit  that  mark*  a  Wvh  foul,     Y, 


42  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

by  indefatigable  induftry,  an  equal  (hare  of  good  fof^ 
tunc  and  as  pcrfcil  contentment  of  mind,  as  their  an« 
ceflor  enjoys* 


SECTION  Itr 


0/yc/wf  philofophic  and  domcdic  particulars  in  the  ckf^" 
radcr  of  Kliyogg^ 

WHAT  is  moft  amazing;  and  merits  our  particular  at-* 
tention,  is,  that  all  thefe  improvements  are  efFc<Sled  with 
ib  few  hands  i  a  family  of  four  adult  perfons  ;  two  of 
whom  are  women,  who  have  few  hours  to  fparc  fromi 
domeftic  employments,  and  the  care  of  educating  and 
working  for  their  children  ! 

The  unprodu£^ivenefs  then  of  our  foil  i%  itot  the 
necefTary  confequence  of  want  of  inhabitants*  It  is  not 
the  deficiency  of  hands,  but  the  progrcfs  of  floth  and- 
indolence  which  ought  to  alarm  our  fears  :  it  is  this 
which  induces  the  idle  part  of  our  people  to  prefer  the 
lefs  toilfome,  but  more  precarious  works  of  the  manu* 
fadurer^  to  the  rough  but  more  manly  exercifes  of  the 
hufbandman, — The  extravagance  of  our  artificers,  af- 
fords another  fource  of  calamity  which  is  daily  aug- 
menting^ We  mud  necelTarily  conclude  from  thefe 
confiderations,  that  before  agriculture  can  be  brought' 
to  perfedlion  in  this  canton,  a  thorough  reformation  of 
manners  mnft  be  introduced. — When  the  peafants  fball 
be  animated  with  a  true  ardor  for  rural  occupations,  it 
will  then  be  the  proper  time  to  think  of  adopting  the 
new  hufbandry  ;  and  exchanging  the  ancient  modes  of 
cultivation  for  a  more  perfect  fyflemj  eflabllfhed  on  ex- 
perimental demonftration. 

Our 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  43 

.OurphilofopherKliyogg  is  invariably  of  this  opinion* 
«'  You  cannot  conceive,  Sir,"  he  has  often  repeated, ''  how 
'^'  many  grievances  would  be  rcdrelTcd,  if  the  government 
**  and  the  inhabitant  of  the  country  mutually  concur- 
*'  red  in  promoting  the  general  good.  Our  lands  want 
*'  only  to  be  cultivated  with  more  underflanding  and 
**  induflry,  to  fupply  a  fufficient  quantity  of  grain  for 
*'  our  ufe  ;  bat  unfortunately  we  err  in  thele  two  par- 
*^  ticulars.— The  pcafant  is  feldom  enlightened  enough 
*'  to  difcern  his  real  advantages. — It  muft  be  then  from 
"  the  magiflratc,  who  is  appointed  by  the  date  to  watch 
*'  over  the  good  of  the  comqiunity,  that  we  can  hope 
*'  for  relief.  It  is  they  who  fhould  prefcribe  to  culti- 
*'  vators  thebcfh  methods  of  husbandry  ;  and  exert  the 
*'  authority  lodged  in  their  hands,  to  oblige  the  idle  to 
*'  work  or  to  punifh  their  obftinacy.  The  public  ofHcers 
^'  fhould  attentively  infped  the  coRdu£l  of  every  nidivi- 
*'  dual ;  leading  back  to  theirduty  fuch  as  have  devi- 
^'  ated  from  it,  by  reprimands,  menaces,  and  falutary 
^'  corre«flion. — The  clergy  might  be  peculiarly  inftru- 
*'  mental  in  this  laudable  work,  were  they  more  aflidu- 
*'  ousin  admonifbing  their  parifhioners,  either  from  the 
"  pulpit  or  in  their  pafloral .  vifits,  to  the  uniform 
*'  pradice  of  the  duties  of  chriflianity  :  and  if  they  in- 
^'  culcated  without  ceafing,  that  the  eiTcnce  of  piety 
'*  confifls  in  exa<^Iy  performing  towards  our  neighbors 
**  what  juflice  di<^ates,  or  in  other  words,  in  rendering 
*'  to  every  one  his  due.  Thefe  gentlemen  have  com- 
^'  monly  a  great  deal  too  much  learning  in  their  fer- 
*'  mons.  They  feek  tedious  and  labored  explications 
^*  of  their  text,  which  the  peafant  is  incapable  of  com* 
**  prehending ;  inflead  of  informing  him  in  a  fimple 
**  manner  how  he  ought  to  regulate  his  conda£l.  Hence 
"  it  follows,  that  the  villagers  (far  the  greater  part  of 
*>  them)  imagine  that  they  have  fulfilled  all  that  rcli- 
*'  gion  requires,  in  going  to  church,  faying  their  pray- 
^^  crs,  and  finging  pfalms  !  and  that  they  may  then  in- 

"  dulge 


.^  'rHE  RURAL  SOCRATES  e 

^■^  ciaige  themfelves  with  impunity,  in  luxury  *  of  ap- 
*'  parel,  and  exccflivfr- gluttony  in  eating  and  drinkingl 
^'  Thus  they  begin  by  diflipating  their  patrimony,  and 
^'  end  by  defrauding  their  neighbors.  There  is,  in  my 
■^^  opinion^  ten  times  more  evil  in  cheating  a  man  of  a 
*'  fingle  farthing,  that  in  omitting  to  hear  a  fermon. — 
*'  Nbne  have  a  right  to  expcfb  d  benedidion  from  hea- 
^'  ven,  but  thofe  whofe  probity  is  irreproachable,  and 
*^  their  in duflry  indefatigable  ;  and  ivho  thus  earn  their 
^'  bread  by  the  fweat  of  their  brows  1  A  diligent  huf- 
^'  bandman  knows  nt/t  what  a  bad  year  is,  nor  fuf- 
*'  fers  the  ferenity  of  his  mind  to  be  iufHed  at  ilerms 
*'  andtempefls.  '  An  indolent  one,  on  the  contrary,  ex« 
*'  pedis  all  from  Providence  ;  and  complains  of  the  par- 
*'  tiality  of  fortune,  becaiife  his  har veil  is  worfe  than 
*'  thofe  of  his  induftrious  neighbor.— The  magifirate  of 
^'  the  difl:ri£ts,  ought^  oh  their  fide,  to  enforce  corporal 
*'  puniQimehts  and'  pecuniary  'fines  on  perfons,  who 
**  refufe  to  labor  hbtwithHianding  the  exhortations  of  the 
*'  clergy.  F6r  this  purpofe,  they  (hould  make  frequent 
*^  and  regular  circuits  in  their  diftrid:,  and  examine  ac- 
*'  curately  the  cultui'e  of  the  farms  :  they  fiiould  diltin- 
^^  guiOi  and  reward  thofe  amongjfl:  the  fubordinate  huf- 
*^  bandmenwho  give  the  nloU:  evident  proofs  of  labor 
**  and  application  ;  whilft  they  fnould  treat  with  the  ut- 
*' moil  feverity,  fuch  as  are  notorious  for  lazinefs  and 
^'  ina«5livity.  Good  God  !''  exclaimed  he,  *'  What  would 
'''  be  the  profpcrity  of  thefe  cantons,  if  fuch  meafures 
*'  were  purfiied  1  and  what  an  abundant  enjoyment  wc 
*•  fliould  have  of  all  the  necelfarles  of  life  i"t 

Kliyogg 


''  'Viany  readers  may  be  lurprifed  to  hear  peafanJs  accofec^  of  luxury  in 
spparel;  but  thofe  who  have  been  in  Switzerland,  arc  fenfible  how  rnucb 
the  women,  in  fome  diftricis,  particularly  the  unmarried,  merit  tins  !«• 
p roach,     F, 

-'  Tb-  polic*}  of  the  $mU  admitted  of  iht  JiboTC  tseafursso 


IHE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  4^ 

*Kliyogg  cxercifes  all  the  duties  o^th-tmafferoftt 
family y  though  he  is  the  younger  brother.  He  who  has  the 
"priority  of  birth,  has  a  iiifficient  degree  of  information 

and  ■ 


*  As  tiieEng1i/h  tranflator  has  here  pa/Ted  ovei  moFC  thaii  nine  pages  un- 
noticed,  containing  a  converfation  between  Kliyogg  and  oar  author,  aft 
cxtrafl  foKows  of  fo  much  of  the  paflage  as  is  intereftiog. 

•' When  yx)u  ha?e  meditated  well  upon  objeih  tending  to  th?;  pa'olic 
,«*  utility  (fays  Kliyogg)  propofe  them  with  etjergy  and  zeal,  and  let  the 
c<  manner  of  executing  theoi  be  a  naodei  of  feriior  acd  zCiWiiy  ;  and  the 
••  blefling  of  Providciice  will  not  be  wanting.  Yon  will  always  obtain 
««  apart  of  what  yoo  feek  ;  and  the  firft  frc^fT-^?.  hov^ever  faint,  will  not 
•«<on!y  fuggeft  the  trial  of  new  expedients,  mi  will  give  you  coorage  in 
«*  your  farther  efforts.  To  day,  one  point  vviji  be  gained,  ton:)orrow  anoth- 
«'  er,  and  infenfibly  your  work  will  receive  its  lull  accomplifhnienr. — I; 
«<  waa  not  a!!  at  once,  that  I  f.icceeded  in  improving  my  lands  ;  many 
«*  years  pafled  away  beforel  could  perceive  that  I  had  made  any  advance  ; 
«t  but  this  did  not  difcoarage  me. — You  doubt  the  approbation  of  the  pub- 
«<  lie  ;  but  why  (hculd  you  doubt  that  what  is  honeft  and  ufcful  will  at  laft 
<«  obtain  its  concurrence  ?  There  is  fomcthing  within  us,  when  we  heat 
<»  the  truth,  that  fays  Tes  to  it,  however  difagreeable  it  niay  be.  Do 
<«  net  be  difheartened  yourfelf,  and  in  the  end  you  will  perceive,  that  ev- 
«  cry  cne  will  be  afhamed  to  refufe  you  his  approbation. — But  my  dear 
«'  Kliyogg  (replied  our  author)  fuccefs  in  your  cafs  is  a  conftant  motive  to 
««  aiSiviiy  J  every  Groke  of  your  hoc  is  a  ftep  forwards,  end  makes  yoa 
««  approach  nearer  to  the  objcfts  yon  have  in  view  ;  whereas  in  working 
«'  for  the  public  wc  often  fee,  in  a  finglc  inftant,  the  fruit  of  all  our  labors 
<»  vanilh,  and  proje^s  rejeified  which  are  the  beft  intentioned  and  contriv- 
«<  ed.  Such  contradidions  difliearten  public  men  ;  their  zeal  cools ;  an^ 
<*  K-hcn  no  remedy  appears,  they  leave  things  ro  take  their  couifc- — This 
*«  (exclaimed  Kliyogg  with  vivacity)  is  exaif^Iy  what  ought  not  to  be  ; 
*«  for  it  it  prccifely /^<r«,  that  efforts  ought  to  be  redoubled.  The  rtwre 
«« prefling  is  the  call,  the  more  ought  we  to  he  convinced  of  the  necelSty  of 
««  an  im  media  re  attention  to  it.  And  is  not  the  internal  i}iiti«.f3^1ion  w,hici\ 
"  we  experience,  when  we  know  that  we  have  done  oar  duty,  of  itHtlf  a 
«  fccompenfe  ;  and  the  firft  that  can  be  propofed  ?  Tnift  to  Providince  : 
<;«  every  ufeful  attempt,  however  fruftrated,  may  at  another  feafoti^iroduce 
"  falutary  fruits.  Often,,  when  the  ftate  of  the  feafons  has  feem^  to  Jake; 
"  away  all  hepe  from  me,  Providence  has  favored  me  at  the  time  of  bar- 
«*  veft  with  a  fufficient  crop;  and  he  who  reckons  upon  Providence  whc:?. 
«*  engaged  in  an  honeft  enterprize,  according  to  the  apodle,  al'w&ji  li'jes 
'^,^  in  hope:*  .  ^ 

Kliyogg  in  the  above  converfation,  fecms  to  agree  with  the  Ia?e  Dr. 
Tebb  of  London,  who  in  his  political  conferences  ufcd  to  jrc£r.ark»  fhaf  r?^ 
■  ^  .  effarc 


44  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

and  rcafon  to  acknowledge  the  fuperiority  of  his  brotb- 
sr's  genius  and  talents,  and  to  reiign,  in  confequcncc, 
the  ible  direction  of  every  thing  to  his  adminiftration  ; 
Satisfied  with  feconding  that  ardor  of  which  he  is  fuf- 
iiilhed  with  the  example- 

In  admitting  the  fyftem  which  Kliyogg  has  formed 
refpedling  the  obligations  of  the  head  of  a  family,  few 
men  would  be  tempted  to  envy  him  that  honor. — Ac- 
cording to  him,  the  mafler  is  to  be  the  firfl  to  commence 
all  forts  of  work,  and  the  lafl  to  leave  them.  The  ve- 
ry elTence  of  his  authority  confifts  in  being  a  living  pat- 
tern to  every  individual  of  his  family,  '*  Without  this, 
*'  (fays  he)  all  efforts  are  vain,  all  cares  are  ufelefs  t 
*'  the.  mailer  of  a  family  may  juflly  be  compared  to  the 
*^  root  of  a  tree,  which  gives  life  and  flrength  :  if  the 
<^'  root  ceafes  to  vegetate,  the  tree,  however  healthy 
*'  before,  muft  perifli  with  it.  With  what  confidence 
*'  can  a  mafler  exa^^of  his  fervantsto  labor  with  un- 
*'  relaxed  ardor,  when  he  himfelf  is  the  firfl  to  difcov- 
*'er  wearinefs  i  With  what  expe<flation  of^  obedience 
*' can  he  regulate  and  order  the  bufinefs  of  the  day^ 
*^  when  his  laborer  underllands  how  to  methodize  it 
*'  better  I  Such  a  mafler  will  be  the  fport,  the  jefl  of  his 
*'  domeflics  ;  and  if  his  ignorance  is  accompanied  with 
:*'  obflinacy,  the  execution  of  his  orders  will  be  an  in- 
*^  tolerable  burthen.  On  the  contrary,  if  the  intellec- 
*'  tual  faculties  of  the  mafler  are  evidently  more  en* 
*/  largcd  ;  if  it  is  he  who  fets  the  mofl  induflrious  exam- 
ple ^ 


fifort  is  loft. — Kliyogg  alfo  agrees  wuh  Confucius,  one  of  ihc  moft  wife 
and  amiable  of  men.  ♦•  There  is  only,  fays  the  Chinefe  philofophcr,  the 
*'  fage  who  is  always  content ;  for  virtue  renders  his  fool  tranquil :  noih« 
<"  ing  troubles  or  difturbs  him,  for  he  does  not  pradliice  virtue  in  order  to 
•'*  be  retompenjed  by  it :  the  prad^ice  of  virtue  is  I  he  fole  reward  for  which 
**  he  hopes."  Many  of  thcGreeW  philofophets,  (who  however  fell  far  fhort 
iif^eneral  of  Confucius,  as  to  diffufive  benevolence,  fmce  Confucius  knev/ 
Vnit  the  ht^  pafrieti/m  is  that  which  is  ioundcd  on  a  love  for  xhfwhoUhu* 
iftai%,r/jee  ;J  many  of  the  Greek  philofophers  have  uttered  fimilar  fentiaaen>;s 
pfpcftxng  a  diftnttrejled  pu  ifuit  of  vijctHC  acd  pf  v;b*t  i%  ufe ful,     ^^ 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  47 

^^  pie  ;  there  will  not  be  a  fervant  in  his  hoiifliold  but 
*^  will  glory  to  emulate  their  mafler's  condu£t. 

*'Iwas  requeftcd  by  a  particular  friend  (faid  KI1-. 
"  yogg  lately  to  me)  to  (hew  his  fervant  my  method  of 
*'  manuring  with  marley  gravel.  This  lad,  docs  not 
*'  want  capacity,  and  is,  as  you  fee,  ftrongand  robufl ; 
*'  the  misfortune  is,  he  is  not  always  hearty  in  his  work, 
*'  I  took  the  lad  into  the  field  with  me :  he  fhared  my  fa- 
**  tigue  early  in  the  morning,  and  worked  clofe  by  my 
*'  fide  late  in  thecveningc  He  feconded  my  labor  bet- 
*'  ter  and  better  evdry   day  ;   and  I  could  not  avoid 

"  admiring  his  vigor,    dexterity,   and  diligence. 

**  The  next  time  I  faw  my  friend,  I  could  not  for- 
*'  bear  obferving  the  great  injuflice  he  did  his  fervant 
*^  in  accufing  him  of  idlencfs,  fbr  F  had  never  feen  any* 
*'  body  fo  remarkably  indefatigable. — He  protefted  to 
^*  me,  on  the  contrary,  that  whenever  he  went  to  over- 
'*  look  his  laborers,  he  always  found  him'unemployed. 
tt — Is  he  equally  idle,  faid  I,  when  he  works  in  the 
*'  fame  fpot  of  ground  vi^ith  your  (elf? — That  is  a  point, 
"  replied  my  friend,  I  cannot  determine.  I  hii-e  him 
*'  to  do  the  1:  lavieft  part  of  the  bufineis,  in  order  to  be 
**  exempted  from  tt)o  great  fatigue  myfelf :  all  that 
*'  fecms  ncceffary  for  me  to  undertake  is,  to  give  proper 
*'  diredlions,  and  to  have  an  eye  to  their  execution. — * 
"  Yoii  regard  the  rougher  part  of  manual  labor,  inter- 
*'  ruptigd  i,  as  a  painful  employment  f — I  at  lead  think, 
"faid  he,  it  is  permitted  us,  when  we  are  rich  enough 
**  to  afford  it,  to  enjoy  a  reputable  and  honorable  rc- 
"  leafe  from  it.  Were  we  denied  this  privilege, 
"  whatdifferencev/ould  there  be  between  opulence  and 
**  poverty  I  And  where  would  be  the  advantage  thatPro- 
**  vidence  has  difpenfedto  us  a  larger  portion  of  wealth  f 
*'  — If  this  is  your  way  of  thinking;  1  replied,  it  no  lon- 
^'  ger  amazes  me  that  your  fervant  is  idle  during  your 
*'  abfence  ;  for,  fairly  fpeaking,  is  it  not  natural  that 
'^  every  one  (hould  be  folicitous  to  pafs  hi^  time  as  com- 
**  fortably  as  he  can  I  But  I  find  we  think  in  a  very  dif- 
ferent 


4^  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

^'  ferent  manner  5  I  am  never  more  fatisfied  and  happ^r 

*'  than  when  1  am    working  myfelf. And   I   muit 

^'  be  a  convert  to  your  way  of  tbhiking,  my  dear 
^'  Kliyogg.  purfued  my  friend^  from  a  fenfe  that  it  is* 
*'  founded  on  reafon  !  I  v/ill  never,  for  the  future,  com- 
*'  piaifantly  iiften  to  my  wife's  opinion,  when  fhe  per- 
*'  fuades  me  not  to  harrafs  myfelf  fo  much  ;  and  tells 
*'  me  that  I  have  enough  to  live  upon,  and  am  not  un- 
*.^  der  the  neceiiity  of  fhortening  my  days  by  hard  la- 
«*  bor  V" 

Kliyogg  no  fooner  forms  a  refolution,  of  whofe  pro- 
priety and  retflitude  he  is  convinced,  than,  with  uncon- 
querable firmnefs,  he  infifls  that  all  the  family  (hall 
concur  in  it ;  and  when  he  regards  any  cullom  as  per- 
BJcious,  or  even  of  no  real  benefit,  he  obliges  every  bo- 
dy to  rcjeiH:  and  abllain  from  it. — It  is  one  of  his  prin- 
cipal maxims  in  farming,  to  begin  by  re7nov:ng  all  weeds 
before  he  attempts  to  mend  the  joil  ;  otherwife,  manure,- 
inftead  of  being  ad vantageoits,  only  ferves  to  multiply 
thofe  fpbngy  plants  which  fuck  all  nourifliment  from 
the  crop.  On  the  fame  principle,  he  fays,  a  houfe  can- 
not fupport  itfelf  where  idlenefs,  luxury,  and  diliipa* 
tion  are  predominant,  though  the  moft  proper  meafures 
m  other  refpe^s  are  taken  to  make  it  profper. — From 
this  perfuaflon  he  made  ufe  of  the  mod  vigorous  efforts 
for  extirpating  all'  bad  habits  which  had  crept  into  his 
family.  Many  prejudices  had  he  to  encounter  3  many 
contradi£lions  to  cope  with  from  wife  and  fifter,  whom 
he  found  great  difficulty  in  convincing  that  they  ought 
to  rciflify  domeftic  abufes,  which  long  habit  had,  in 
fome  meafure,  rendered  facred  :  yet  his  fortitude  always 
triumphed  over  their  refiflance. — The  applaufe  and  ap- 
probation his  economic  improvements  met  with  from 
fome  of  the  princip:d  psrioiis  in  the  canton,  contributed 
not  a  little  to  reduce  to  reafon  thefe  intefline  fermenta- 
tions.— At  prcfent,  concord  prefides  at  bis  board,  and 
there  fccms  but  one  heart  and  one  wiil-     So  true  is  it 

th:it 


THE  KURAL  SOCRATES,  jtf 

Hiat  the  encouragement  with  which' a  government  hon- 
€>rs  the  rubje<5J:s  who  diftinguiQi  themieives  by  ufefu! 
fiifcoveries,  or  bencfieial  examples^  makes  an  imprcfiiorf 
on  others,  and  induces  them  to  endeavor  at  an  imitation^ 

Kliyogg  kept  the  only  tavern  which  there  was  in  the 
village  ;  from  which  there  rcfblted,  in  appearance,  con- 
fiderabie  profit  towards  honie-keeping. — Accurate  exa- 
mination foon  convinced  him  that  this  was  a  miftake  •: 
he  fhuddered  at  the  thought  of  the  bad  imprefTions  and 
dangerous  examples  his  children  would  receive  from 
the  guells  who  frequented  his  houfe  ;  the  greater  part 
of  whom  wafle  in  a  tavern  that  time,  which  is  mof!:' 
precious  for  work  5  wantonly  difiipating  tiie  money 
which  ought  to  be  employed  to  the  advantage  of  their 
domeilic  affairs,  till  their  flrength  is  enervated,  their 
under  flan  ding  and  reafon  totally  degenerate,  and  they 
are  incapable  of  applying  to  the  occupations  or  dutie^- 
of  life. — ^Thefe  reflexions  led  him  to  a  determined  refo* 
lution  not  to  allow  any  of  his  cuflomers  more  wine  thaa 
Was  ncceffary  to  recover  and  recruit  the  confumptiorj! 
of  rpirits,  occafioned  by  hard  labor,  or  the  fatigue  of  a 
journey  :  the  fole  ufe  for  which  wine  feemed  deilined 
by  the  Creator.  He  fixed,  from  his  own  experience, 
that  quantity  to  a  pint  ;  and  maintained  his  reiblutiod 
v/iih  the  moll  rigid  exaftnefs; 

8uch  a  proceeding  was  very  Toon  attended  with  the 
lofs  of  the  greatefl  part  of  his  company,  and  with  theme 
of  tire  profit  arifing  from  his  buftnels.— The  two  fiflcrs 
(one  of  whom  had  been  brought  up  in  a  tavern)  were 
filled  with  refentment  ;  and  attacked  him.  in  very  fever^ 
terms.  ".  We  have  always  foreleen,  faid  they,  that 
'^  your  unaccountable  fingularity  would  prove  the 
*'  ruin  of  your  family.  The  v/orld  has  long  taken  no- 
'^  tice  of  it  ;  and  the  better  part  has  prophefied  that  no 
^'  luck  would  happen  ever  fincG  you  began  to  deviate 
*'  from  the  cudoms  of  cur  wile  forefathers  1  You  fee 
*^  what  fine  effects  your  obllinate  caprice  has  produced, 

G  ''  m 


^m,  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

**  in  depriving  us  of  the  ready  money  we  were  daily  r€^ 
"  ceiving  from  our  cuflomers!  Is  not  this  to  take  the 
*'  bread  from  your  children's  mouths  ?  Our  poor  little 
*^  ones,  muftfoon  be  reduced  to  beg  from  door  to  door  I 
*^  --Hope  better  things,  good  folks  !  (replfed  Kliyogg^ 
**  with  a  compofed  tone  of  voice,  and  a  fmiling  counte- 
^^  nance  ;)  Examine  all  circumftances  vviih  delibera- 
*'  tion  before  you  condemn  me.  Have  I  ever  refufcd 
*'  my  children  any  thing  neceffary  to  their  happinefs  ? 
**  I  thank  God  for  having  enabied  me  to  fupply  them 
^^  with  wholefome  food  and  proper  cloathing  1"— ^'Wc 
*'  do  not  deny  it,  (faid  they)  but  as  they  grow  older^ 
*'  will  it  not  require  more  to  maintain  them  J" — "True; 
^^  but  their  (Irength  will  increafe  in  proportion,  and 
*'  confequently  the  time  is  dravt^ing  nearer^  xvhen  they 
^'  will  be  able  to  aflift  in  improving  our  eftate.  Are 
*'  not  the  crops  coniiderably  larger  than  when  I  firfl  en- 
*'  tered  upon  farming  I  And  is  not  it  apparent  that  noth- 
^^  ing  is  wanting  but  more  hands  to  make  a  further  aug- 
*'  mentation  of  our  income  r'^-— ^'^  We  have  no  objec- 
*^'  tion  to  make  to  that  point.  But  why  is  the  profit  we 
'•  draw  from  the  tavern  to  be  defpifed  ?  This,  added 
*'  to  wh-at  you  make  by  farming,  would  be  a  great  affiil- 
'^  ancc  to  the  family/'—''  You  omit  in  your  calcula- 
''  tion,  (faid  Kliyogg)  that  there  mufl  be  one  fervant 
'^  extraordinary  to  wait  on  tlie  company,  whofe  labor 
*'  h  entirely  loft  to  the  farm." — "  We  acknowledge 
*'  that  the  article  of  hufoandry  ma^y  fufFer  a  little  ;  yet 
'^  the  advantage  is  far  fuperior  to  the  lofs.''-— ''  I  am 
'^  rendy  to  admit,  (faid  Kliyogg)  that  our  advantage 
^'  from  the  tavern  is  proportionably  more  lucrative 
^^  than  fromthe  farm  ;  yet  can  you  believe  that  the  mo- 
'^  ney  acquired  by  indulging  the  vices  of  our  fellow-crea- 
''  tures  will  be  attended  with  a  bleffing  ?  Are  you  deaf 
''  to  the  fad  complaints  which  are  poured  forth  incei- 
''  fantly  by  the  wives  of  profell«?d  drunkards  and  dc- 
''-  bauchees,  at  the  caufe  of  their  unhappinefs  ?  Does 
^'  tK)t  every  ckv  nfforfl  inftances  r-f  Tons  who  have  great 

**  wealth 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  p^^ 

■^^  wealth  left  them  by  their  fathers,  advancing  with 
**  hady  ftrides  towards  ruin,  by  abandoning  themfclves 
**  to  intoxication  and  floth  I  Is  it  rot  realonable  to  fcar^ 
**  that  thele  unfortunate  families  plunged  into  mifery, 
**.  will  cry  aloud  for  vengeance  againfl  the  infamous  a- 
*'varicc  of  tavern  keepers,  who  have  contributed  to 
**  the  diflipation  of  their  wealth  !*'— ^'  There  are,  how- 
**  ever,  to  be  found,  landlords  who  may  be  called  for- 
**  tunate  ;  and,  who  have  acquired  great  wealth  by 
•'  their  bufinefs/^-— ''  Acknowledged  ;  yet  how  rare 
*'  are  the  inilances  of  their  continuing  rich  to  the  third 
*'  generation  ?  Their  children  iulenfibly  accuftomed  to 
*^  a  libertine  life,  lofe  all  inclination  for  induftry  ;  in 
*'  accumulating  riches  at  the  expencc  of  others,  they 
"  grow  impoiing  and  wicked  :  and  would  you  wifh 
*^  to  expofc  your  children  to  the  like  temptations  ? 
*'  Would  you  wifh  that  ail  the  fatigue  and  trouble  wc 
**  have  endured  in  the  culture  of  our  land  (hould  prove 
**  ufelefs  ?  and  that  our  children,  corrupted  by  bad  ex- 
"  amples,  (hould  be  abandoned  to  beggary,  and  ey.pend 
*'  more  in  one  day  than  they  can  gain  in  twenty  years 
*'  by  this  unworthy  occupation  ? — Heaven  forbid,  but 
"  no  one  ever  aUerted  that  thefe  confcquences  mull  in- 
"  difpenfably  happen." — "  The  probability  is  furely 
*'  that  this  muft  happen  ;  and  do  you  not  daily  fee  with 
*^  what  facility  children  adopt  bad  examples  ^''— >'^  We 
^'  muft  allow  it/' — ''  Suppofe  then  that  to  happen, 
*'  which  you  thus  admit  to  be  poffiblc  ;  with  wbatNun- 
*'  ceafmg  reproaches  would  your  minds  be  deprcfTed, 
*^  for  having  been  the  caufc  of  your  children's  depravi- 
"^^  ty  ?  Whereas,  if  you  follow  my  advice,  you  may  in 
**  truth,  amafs  lefs  money  ;  but  our  children,  inured  to 
*'  labor,  will  be  contented  with  the  produce  of  their 
*'  land,  and  the  blefiing  of  heaven  will  vifit  them,as  it  has 
*^  vifited  us  !'' — *^  Weil  then  you  mull  purfue  your  own 
*'  courfe  ;  we  are  always  obliged  to  fubmit  to  your 
*'  opinion)   even  though  w«  arc  fure  you  are  in  the 

*^  wrong ; 


52  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

*' wrong;. but  remember,  if  the  event  involves  us  in 
^'  want  and  mirery,  yoa  are  anlwerabic  for  it." 

Such  was  commonly  the  parting  word  of  that  contra*^ 
di'flory  fpirit  which  oppofed  the  invincible  conflancy  of 
our  philofophcr,  who  perfifled  here  in  the  wiie  refolii- 
tion  he  had  taken. — The  inhabitants  of  the  village  made 
it  the  objcifl  of  the'ir  derifion,  and  engaged  one  of  their 
companions  to  open  another  tavern,  but  to  their  greae 
detriment  ;  and  many  parents,  diflreifed  with  the  irre- 
gniaritics  of  their  Tons,  which  daily  grew  worfe  and 
worfe,  complained  to  Kliyogg  himfelf  of  the  bad  ten- 
dency of  taverns,  and  that  the  money  fcjuandered  there 
would  reduce  them  to  ruin o 

He  dlfcovered  another  caufe  injmious  to  the  profpe- 
rity  of  families,  in  the  ciiftom  of  making  little  prefents 
to  children  at  chrijlenin^s^  or  for  fjew-y ear's  gifts, — ► 
*^  Thefe  gratuities  (faid  Kliyogg)  habituate  them  early 
*'  in  life  to  acquifitions  by  other  ways  than  induflry  ; 
*'  which  is  lowing  the  feeds  of  iazinefs,  that  fource  of 
*'  all  evils  :  beiides,  preients  on  thefe  occafions,  con- 
*'  fifl  of  unwholefome  delicacies,  which  are  at  Jeafl  {{i- 
*'  perflaous  ;  or  of  expenfive  toys  of  no  real  ufe.  People 
**  are  obliged  to  return  thefe  civilities  to  their  acquain- 
"  tance  ;  and,  hovv^cver  fmall  in  appearance  fuch  trifles 
*'  may  be,  they  amount  to  a  fnm  in  the  end  of  the  year, 
^'  very  often  burthenfome  toa  family/' — He  made  it  a 
rule,  therefore,  to  receive  no  prefents  whatfcever  for 
himfelf  or  children,  from  godfathers  or  relations  ;  and 
never  to  make  any,  except  to  real  objcds  of  charity, 
fuch  as  perfons  whonl  age  or  accident  had  rendered  in- 
capable of  procuring  a  fubfiilencc. 

He  blames  all  thofe  who  bcftow  alms  on  midejerving 
chjeCls ;  confidering  it  as  an  injury  to  fociety  ;  and  that 
thofe  who  diilribute  their  wealth  in  injudicious  bene- 
fa<Slions,  render  themfelves  refponfible  for  the  danger- 
ous confequences  refuiting  from  them. — Thefe  per- 
fons, fays  he,  think  to  pui  chafe  by  their  alms,  a  benc- 

did-ion 


TilE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 


55 


diTrion  from  heaven,  eommonly  in  favor  of  their  oivn 
illicit  purfuits  after  gain  ;  while  their  gifts,  by  indulg- 
ing beggars  in  idlenefs,  encourage  them  to  the  commif^ 
lion  of  every  fort  of  crime,  fuch  as  theft,  impofture,  and 
lewdncfs. 

Of  all  the  rules  of  condu^  pra^lfed  by  Kliyogg,  there 
are  none  which  have  cod  him  more  trouble  in  the 
execution  than  the  two  laft.  He  has  been  accufed  of 
unparalleled  feverity  towards  his  children  ;  and, branded 
with  infufferable  avarice  and  inflexibility  to  the  poor.— ^ 
But,  unmoved  by  the fe  reproaches,  he  has  perfevercd  in 
a  refolution  vv^hofe  re£litude  he  acknowledged.  His 
children,  it  is  true,  never  experience  the  rapturous  fen- 
fai'ions  which  are  excited  by  coflly  prefents  ;  but  they 
are  fo  much  the  more  contented  and  gratified  with  the 
enjoyment  of  what  is  neceffary  and  convenient  for  their 
flation. 

Thefirfl  time  I  went  to  vifit  him,  I  was  defiroiis  of 
leaving  a  ^leafing  remembrance  of  me  in  the  minds  of 
his  children  by  fom.e  trifling  prefents  ;  and  was  fome- 
what  furprifed  not  to  find  in  them  the  lead  inclination  to 
accept  them.  Their  father  defired,  at  nrH:,  that  I  would 
not  give  mylelf  fo  much  trouble  ;  and  as  I  took  his  man- 
ner of  declining  only  as  a  compliment  my  offers  were 
continued  ;  but  he  infifled  flill  more  vehemently  that 
they  fhould  not  be  repeated.—- In  vain  I  remonfrratcd 
that  it  was  right  for  young  people  to  have  proper  in- 
dulgences, and  that  what  I  begged  their  acceptance  of 
was  a  trifle.  It  is  not.  Sir,  faid  he,  with  fome  emotion, 
the  value  of  what  you  wifli  to  give  my  children,  that 
caufes  this  repugnance  ;  but  my  perfuafion  of  the  dan- 
gerous coniequences  to  them  attending  thefe  fort  of 
gifts. 

He  exerted  eqtTal  iirmncfs  in  banifhing  tliofe  dlpin-- 
tions  anntxed  to  particular  days  ;  for  at  his  table  there 
k  no  preference  in  good  cheer  given  to  Sundays  or  Fef- 
tivals,  the  conclufion  of  hay  or  corn  harveli,  or  chriflenv 


54  THE  RUP^AL  SOCRATES, 

ings,  or  country  wakes.  — It  appeared  to  him  abfolutely 
incoiifiitent  with  reafon  to  allow  the  boi\y  more  nourifti* 
jneiit  on  days  of  relaxation,  than  on  days  of  labor  jvvhcn 
the  rtrength,exhau(led  by  painful  toil, has  much  more  oc- 
csiion  to  be  recruited.  He  therefore  regulates  the  food 
sccoiding  to  the  nature  of  the  work  ;  and  prepares  iii$ 
laborers  doc  to  expe(5t  any  extraordinary  feaft  at  the 
end  of  harvefL^^ — '*■  This  is  not  the  eife£l:  of  coveioaf- 
'^  nefs,  (ne  lays  to  thern)  for  I  (Ijail  fpiend  the  fame  mo-, 
**  ney  that  others  do  ;  but  it  (haU  be  in  maintaining  you 
^*  better  every  day  when  your  work  is  mofl  fatiguing.'' 

Kliyogg  drinks  no  wine  at  meals  ;  but  carries  his  pint 
with  him  into  tite  fields  ;  and  ufes  it  as  a  reftorative, 
>cvhen  he  finds  himieif  fiaking  \inder  the  burthen  of  la* 

J)or, 

He  fattens /^«?^j"  for  the  iife^ofhis  family,  like  other 
farmers  ;  yet  pork  is  never  a  (eparate  didi  at  his  table  $ 
ijut  a  certain  quantity  of  bacon  is  dreffed  daily,  cut  in 
fmall  pieces,  and  mixed  with  iome  kind  of  vegetable  : 
this,  he  finds,  renders  the  vegetable  a  more  ir.vigorat- 
:ng  diet. — He  is  of  opinion  that  food  of  thehardcft  di- 
gefrion,  affords  the  greatefl:  degree  of  nourifhment.  For 
this  reafon  he  gives  potatoes  the  preference  over  other 
roots,  and 'rye  bread  over  wheat. — This  convi<n:ion  he 
draws  from  his  own  experience  ;  in  which  he  cannot  ea- 
iilv  be  miftaken,  as  he  labors  inceiTantly  in  an  equal  de- 
cree ;  and  has  condantly  oblerved  that  his  ftrength  is 
much  (boner  exhaufled  when  he  feeds  on  delicate  meats^ 
irhan  on  thofe  which  are  grofs  and  more  difficult  to  di- 
rcd.  ••    ^  ■  ■   ^     .     . 

But  the  fird  and  unofl  material  obje^l  of  his  care  is, 

^:je  educafion  of  his  childreii ;  which  he  rationally  confi- 

krs  as  the  mod  iacrcd  of  all  duties.     He  regards  them 

-^3  fomany  pledges  intruded  to  him  by  the  Divinity, /i7r 

'   '  -  -  •'  -  >  -  ^'■  f  nooth  the  road  that  leads  to  true  happinefs  ; 

convinced 


THE  PiURAL  SOCRATES*  55; 

convinced  that  juHicc  would  be  required  of  him,  faould 
lie  direct  tliem  wrong. — His  great  principle  on  this  head 
is  to  prevent  the  entry  of  falie  ideas  and  irregular  dc- 
fires  into  the  mind  while  tender,  t^bfervation  has 
taught  him  that  children  imitate  the  manners  and  ac- 
tions of  older  perfons,  with  whom  they  live  ;  and  be 
apprehends  that,  by  a  due  government  of  his  ow^n  pai- 
fions,  he  can  avoid  fetting  any  bad  examples  before 
them,  if  they  could  be  equally  prefer  ved  from  conta- 
gion from  others. — To  prevent  this  evil,  he  is  defirou3> 
to  have  his  childien  always  with  him  ;  and  infifls  that 
they  [liall  attend  him  in  all  his  labors^nd  Ihare  in  them 
in  proportion  to  their  fli  ength*^  Thus  he  endeavois 
to  give  them  an  early  talle  for  his  ov;n  kind  of  life,  and 
for  his  own  way  of  thinking  and  ailing  ;  and  hopes  to 
infpire  into  them  that  true  contetit  which  he  regards 
as  the  only  foundation  of  happinefs  ;  vvhilii  by  remov- 
ing  them,  as  far  as  he  is  able  from  all  other  fociety, 
whcfe  bad  cnftoms  and  depraved  manners  he  has  taken 
pains  to  banifh  from  his  own  houfe,  they  are  not  expo- 
ied  to  the  danger  of  imitation. — This  rock,  on  which  fc 
many  fplit,  prevents  him  from  fending  them  to  a  pub- 
lic fchool  ;  lefl  communication  with  unprincipled  and 
ill  educated  young  perfons  in  their  walks  and  hours  of 
recreation,  (hould,  by  injuring  their  morals,  mske 
them  too  dearly  purchafc  the  arts  of  reading  and  wri* 
ting. 

Kliyogg  undertakes  to  teach  them  himfelf,  and  ^^Xs 
fome  hours  in  the  Sunday,  apart  for  this  occupation. — 
In  confequence  of  this,  the  brothers  attend  their  duty  at 
church  alternately.  *  One  of  them  always  ilaysat  home  \ 
as  well  as  to  pieferve  decency  of  behavior  amongf!:  the 
children  ;  as  to  hear  them  repeat  the  catechifmjand  give 
them  lefTons  in  reading  and  wiiting. 

The  Tame  motive  infinences  our  philofophcr  to  forbid 
his  children  from  partaking  in  public  diverlions;  fuch  as 
fairs,  village feads,  &c.  a  prohibition  that  has,  in  triith^ 
fubie<fled  ban  to  cenfure,  and  to  be  confidfrcd  as  a  fee 

tarj% 


56  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

tarlil,  and  a  rigid  father  whofe  parfimony  refufed  to  his* 
children  the  enjoyment  of  any  diverfion. — *'  You  are  ex- 
*='  cefBvely  in  the  wrong  (laid  one  of  his  neighbors  to' 
^'  Kiiyogg)  to  treat  your  children  ib  inho'ninly  by  refu- 
'*  fing  them  every  kind  of  recreation  ! — \nd  who  has 
*^'  informed  you  (faid  he)  that  I  deny  them  recreation  ? 
^'  Pray  have  they  not  as  much  health  and  cheerfjlnefs 
*'  as  your  own  f** — •''  Bat  do  not  you  abfoliitely  deny 
*'  their  appearance  at  all  places  where  young  people 
*'  meet  to  be  merry  with  propriety  and  decency  ?  Have 
*'  not  you  commanded  your  Tons  not  to  go  to  the  tav- 
''  ern  ?  Nay,  it  \|K3"  but  the  dther  day,  you  refuted  ta 
•^^  let  your  daughter  accept  an  invitation  to  an  entertain* 
*'  mentjwhere  fee  might  have  eaten  and  drank, *nd  dan- 
^^  ced,  and  diverted  hcrfelf  like  the  refl  of^the  world  !'* 
**  — My  daughter  had  not  the  leaft:  inclination  to  go; 
•^^  flie  can'  laugh  and  divert  herfelf  at  home*  Do  you  think 
*^that  drinking  to  excefsy  or  being  imiTioderately  mer- 
^'  ry,  are  the  only  things  that  give  fatisfa^tron  ?  Can 
"  you  eat  more  at  a  tavern  than  nature  permits  ?  Can 
'•*  you  be  more  thian  merry  V' — ''  Clearly  not;  but  a  lit- 
'*  tie  fcflivity  at  proper  intervals,  iB  of  great  fervice  ; 
*'•  we  return  to  our  occupation  with  frefli  alacrity.^'-— 
*^^  Ah  1  my  friend,  have  I  not  oblervcd,' that  when  you 
"  have  been,  guilty  of  irregularity  at  the  tavern  over- 
^^  ivight,  you  were  very  little  difpofed  for  bulinefs  in  the 
"  morning  !  You  have  complained  of  tiae  head-ach, 
^'^  of  wane  of  rcfi,  aild  I'cgrettcd  the  money  foolhiily 
^'  lavilhed  away .''^-~-'' I  confefsit;  yet  fu rely  life  is  not 
*'  intended  to  be  a  circle  of  labor,  without  including 
*'*  Ibme  hours  of  plcafure."— -''  Have  you  then  no  plea- 
^*  fare  In  eukivating  your  land,  and  beholding  the  hap- 
*■'  py  revi^ard  of  your  induflry  ?"— •'  Yes,  undoubtedly 
*'  the  appearance  of  a  good  harveft  gives  me  real  plea- 
*''  fare." — '^Andliave  you  ever  felt  the  leail  difpofi- 
*'  tion  to  repentance,  afb?r  laboring  all  day,  and  per- 
*'  forming  the  duties  of  your  flation  r"-^'' Never.'* — 
*"*  Why  then,  niy   5^o?d  neipjibor,  do  you  not  give  the 

*' preference 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  5/^ 

«^  preference  to  joys  which  are  not  attended' wlth-re- 
'^  morfe,  when  let  in  competition  with  thofe  that  ren- 
^' der  you  incapable  of  profecuting  your  work,  and 
'*'  which  have  frequently  been  followed  by  repent- 
**  ance  t  I  endeavor,  whilft  the  mind  is  iie^iible,  to  in- 
**  fpire  my  children  with  an  inclination  for  rational 
*'  pleafure  :  it  appears,  to  me.  that  I  am  fecuring  their 
'*■'•'  future  happinefs  !  In  teaching  them  to  ihun  thofe 
*'  miflaken  pleafures  you  recommend,  I  hope  to  prefer ve 
^  them  from  that  ruin,  \i'hich  has  been  the  confequeiicc 
**  of  depravity  of  manners  in  io  many  families.*' 

The  method  Kliyogg  ufes  to  cnconrag-e  children  to 
work,  by  exciting  their  emulation,  deferves  to  be  taken 
notice  of. — Whilfl  they  are  too  young  to  labor  with  the 
hoe,  or  fpade,  he  makes  them  eat  their  dinner  upon  the 
iloor  ;  but  from  the  moment  they  begin  to  be  of  fome 
ufe  in  hufbandry,  he  admits  them  to  fit  at  table  with  the 
family.  In  this  manner  he  teaches  them  to  comprehend, 
that  io  long  as  man  is  incapable  of  labor,  aird  lends  no 
affiftance  to  fociety  ;  he  can  be  conlidered  only  as  an  an- 
imal, who  has  a  right  to  expert  fubfiP.ence  ;  but  no 
claim  to  being  treated  as  a  member  of  the  community. 

In  other  refpedts,  he  is  peculiarly  cautious  of  creating 
the  leafl  diftindlions  among  the  children.  He  feems  to 
love,  with  equal  afieiStion,  hisfons  and  his  nephews  :  and 
inflrut^lsthem  with  equal  zeal  and  alliduity  in  the  princi- 
ples of  virtue. — It  is  only  by  an  obedient  behaviour  and 
by  doing  well,  that  they  can  gain  his  friendlliip,  or  ex- 
ped  his  carefles.  His  approbation  is  all  the  recom-- 
penfe  to  which  they  afpire  ;  and  he  has  found  thefecret 
of  making  himfelf  equally  beloved  and  feared  by   theme 

They  are  accuflomed  from  their  infancy  to  hearty  food, 
fuch  as  is  provided  for  the  family  j  and  he  gives  them 
as  much  as  will  thoroughly  fatisfy  their  hunger  ;  avoid- 
ing carefully  to  excite  gluttony  by  feeding  them  with 
delicacies  by  way  of  reward,  according  to  the  pernicious 

H  cuftoci 


^  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

^juflom  of  tnoil  peafants.  Thus  they  have  no  palTion  for 
ihefe  things,  and  ar^j  infenfible  to  all  the  pleafures  of  the" 
tabic  except  that  of  appcafing  a  keen  appetite.  Indif- 
ferent in  the  choice  of  diet,  that  to  which  they  are  moll 
iccuftomed,  is  the  mod  pleafing  to  their  tafte  ;  fo  that 
Kliyogg  may,  without  any  hazard^  difpenfe  with  the 
trouble  of  locking  the  clofets  or  cupboards  where  he 
keeps  his  flores. 

This  confidence  extends  to  the  box  where  he  keep^ 
his  money  ;  which  is  equally  open  to  all  the  members  of 
the  family  who  are  old  enough  to  underftand  its  ufe  and 
are  fuppofed  to  be  equally  entitled  to  a  (liare.  This 
communication  of  wealth  occafions  every  one  to  avoid/ 
with  the  jiiceft  circumlpe^ionj  the  flighteil:  appearance 
of  felfiQinefs,  and  baniflies  an  immoderate  defire  of 
riches  ;  for  they  regard  money  merely  as  an  inflrument 
that  fupplies  them  with  what  is  neceffary  for  the  wants 
of  the  family  ;  and  as  they  find  tbemfclvcs  abundantly 
provided  with  all  that  can  fatisfy  their  reafonable  wifli- 
cs,  no  one  entertains  a  thought  of  any  thing  beyond. 

This  fad  j unifies,  in  fomemeafurfe,  the  opmlon  which 
Kliyogg  has  imbibed  ;  that  their,  defcendants  may,  in 
all  probability,  for  Tome  centuries,  continue  incorpora- 
ted in  one  family. — I  have  heard  him  expand  upon  this 
idea  in  a  converfation  with  a  friend  of  mine,  in  a  man- 
ner fo  fatisfadlory,  that  I  cannot  forbear  relating  it. 

My  friend,  vv^ho  had  acquired  in  a  foreign  fervice,  the 
fortune  his  merit  deferved,  had  not  the  lefs  regard  for 
his  own  country  as  a  worthy  citizen.  Born  with  high 
feelings  for  all  that  is  beautiful  or  excellent,  he  came  to 
leek,  in  the  bofom  of  the  mufes,  an  elevated  relaxation 
from  military  fatigue. — The  moment  he  heard  of  the 
fame  of  our  rural  Socrates,  he  conceived  an  ardent  de- 
fire  to  be  perfonally  acquainted  with  him  ;  and  I  took 
the  firft  opportunity  to  procure  him  that  fatisfaiHrion.— 
Hs  was  ftruckwith  the  fmgular  geniu:".  of  the  man,  and 


THE  RURAL  S0CRATE5,  j^ 

fqon  faid  to  him  witlj  a  tone  of  fricndfhip  and  franknefi,, 
*'  I  perceive,  my  dear  Kliyogg,  it  is  impofllblc  to  rank 
''  you  too  high  in  one's  elleem.  You  have  infpired  mc 
,*'  in  a  moment  with  the  mod  iincere  and  uncommfon 
*'  affedlion  :  and  as  you  have  feveral  fons,  truft  me 
«>  with  one  of  them,  and  I  will  make  his  fortune  in  the 
**  army/' — '^  I  am  infinitely  obliged,  Sir,  replied  Kli- 
•*  yogg,  for  your  kind  intentions  j  and  feel  for  you  aU 
V  the  refpe<rt  and  regard  that  an  officer  of  your  rank, 
t"  and  what  is  more,  of  your  underftanding  and  probity, 
"  *'  deferves.  But  pardon  my  freedom  ;  I  cannot  anfwer 
*'  to  my  confcience  to  part  voluntarily  wi^  any  of  my 
*'  children  before  they  have  attained  the  ag6  whenrea- 
^'  Ton  is  mature.  God  has  blefl  me  with  children  that 
''  I  might  educate  them  to  his  glory,  and  ufe  all  my  cn- 
**  deavors  to  render  them  happy  :  and  I  mean,  through 
*Vthe  mediation  and  affiRance  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  not  to 
*'  fail  in  this  facred  duty." — ''  Your  manner  of  think- 
''  ing  (faid  my  friend)  is  laudable  ;  but  I  w^ould  be 
*'  as  confcientious  in  thefe  articles  as  yourfelf  ?  I  un- 
f  dertake  to  acquit  myfelf  as  your  reprefentative, 
"  with  all  the  pundluality  and  fidelity  of  which  I  am 
"  capable,"—'^  I  believe  you  (faid  Kliyogg)  but  they 
''  are  my  children,  and  1  lland  bound  In  a  pcrfonal  ob- 
**  ligation  to  be  accountable  for  ihem  to  Providence  ; 
*' which  I  cannot,  without  a  crime,  difpenfe  myfelf  > 
''  from,  or  confide  to  another.  The  duties,  Sir, 
*'  conneded  with  your  employment,  will  not  admit 
"  of  your  beflov/ing  the  attention  which  my  fon  may 
*'  require  ;  and  with  what  facility  will  not  a  young 
*'  man  fufFer  himfelf  to  be  drawn  into  the  allurements 
*'  of  vice,  when  he  falls  into  bad  company  !— Do  yoU 
*'  think,  interrupted  my  friend,  that  there  are  no  men 
''  of  honor  and  virtue  in  the  fervice  I  Only  allow  them 
'^  as  much  probity  and  religion  as  any  other  profeiiion.^*= 
"  —I  am  fully  peiTuaded  it  abounds  in  both,  and  have 
"  too  ftriking  an  example  before  me,  not  to  be  convin- 
^^  ccd  of  it  y  yet  is  my  ion  dvvays  to  meet  with  fuch  ; 

**  may 


6j>  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

"  may  he  not  often  aflociate  with  the  diffipated  part  of 
"  mankind  ?   - 1  will  guard  him  from  it  as  much  as  pof- 
''  fible,  faid  the  generous  officer.'' — ''  Whatever  reli- 
*'  ance  I  have  on  your  goodnefs,  Sir,  (replied  Kliyogg) 
"  I   beo;  ag  un  to  .-obferve,  that  your  itation  in   life  will 
**  not  allow  you  to  watch  his  condu6"i  with  the  vigilance 
*'  necefTary  to  my  tranquillity.     My  children  are  Icarce- 
*'  ly  a  momernt  out  of  my  fight  :  they  accompany  either 
*'   mv   brother   or  mvfeif  through    the   whole^courfe 
*'  of  country  bufmefs  ;  and  on  Sundays  I  pais  m.y  time 
*'  agreeably,  in  reading  with  them,  or  in  fmging  pfalms, 
*'  or  in  waikjng  over  fields  which  our  hands  have  culti- 
*'  vated  ;  where  I  explain  to  them  the  different  parts  of 
*'  agriculture,  and  remark  with  what  fii'guiar  liberality 
*'  Providence  has  rewarded  our  labor.     By  this  fyflem 
^'  of  education  they  will  efcape  the  evil  of  bad  example  ; 
^'  fo  long,  ^t  leaft,  as  my  own  life  continues  irreproach- 
''  able.- — I  find  (faid  my  friend)  your  maxims  of  educa- 
^'  tion  prudent  end  fenlible  ;  but  you  have  feven  fons  in 
*'  your  family,  who   cannot    always  be  kept  at  home  : 
^'  you  mufl  by  fome  means  or  other,  endeavor  to  pro- 
*^'  cure  them  (bme  eflabllQiment  ;  and  on  this  fuppofition 
*'  the  army  is  not  to  be  defpifed  :  many  a  worthy  man 
*'  makes  his  fortune  there.'' — -".I  acknowledge  it,  Sir, 
^'  but  1  have  a  competency  for  all   my  fons,    provided 
^^  they  unite  to  regularity    of  condu(5]:,   that  ardor  for 
^'  work,  which  nothing  ought  toextiwguifli.     This  very 
"'  eftate,  which  has  fupported  me  hitherto,  will  fupport 
*'  them  and  their  defcendants,  if  Providence  thinks  fit^ 
^^  when    cultivate d  with   care  and  induffcry." — ''  But 
'^'  furcly  happinefs  is  to  be  found  in  other  flates,  as  well 
"■^  as  in  huibandry." — ''  Indiiputabiy   it  may,  by  thofe 
*'  who  have  been  habituated  to  them  from  their  infan- 
'•^  cy,  and  have  made  themtiicir  conllant  iludy.     Prov- 
'^^  idertce  having  placed  me  in  a  farm,  1  have  inflruifted 
*-^  my  children  in  agriculture  :  Hiey  are  ignorant  of  eve- 
'-'  ry  thing  elfe  :  their  ideas,  their  hopes  of  happinefs, 
'■  ^r-^  br-:^pdcfi  to   the  blciTmg  ^vf  favorable  feafons   on 

*^  their 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  6t 

<<  their  labors, and  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  real  ncceffaries 
*' of  life  !  The  moment  they  enlifl  in  the  army,  they 
*'  would  find  themfelves  tranfplanted  into  a  new  fcencj. 
"  The  cares  and  fatigues  attending  a  military  Jife,  would 
>'  to  them  appear  painful  and  difagreeable  :  whereas  the 
*'  employments  of  the  hufbandman  have  hitherto  been 
^'  fubniitted  to  with  fatisfaiHiion."-—"  Would  not  the 
^^  fam.e  thing  foon  happen  in  military  exercifes  ?  A  mind 
.^'  without  prcj  jdicc  which  applies  with  zeal  to  the  pur- 
*'  fuit  of  any  profeflion  (no  matter  what)  will  enter  into 
''  it  with  readinefs,  and  may  beaffured  of  fucceeding/* 
^^  — Be  it  fo,  Sir,  but  my  fon  would  at  lead  forget  his 
^'  firfl  occupation,  to  which  a  variety  of  circumftances 
"  m'ay  oblige  him  to  return;  and  fiiould  this  happen, 
*'  could  he  relume  it  with  the  fame  ardor  and  alac- 
'*'  rity  I  He  will  have  contracted  abroad  anothet 
*'  fyftem  of  life;  the  hour  and  the  nature  of  his  meals 
*^  will  be  different  ]  and,  if  unfortunately  he  knows 
*'  not  how  to  lay  afide  vi^hat  cuflom  has  rendered 
^'  a  fecond  nature,  his  houfe  will  be  the  feat  of  dif- 
'^  order.  Sincerely  (peaking,  it  appears  to  me  fear ce- 
*'  ly  poffible  for  any  one  to  b^  truly  happy  out  of  that 
''  circle  of  life  to  which  he  has  been  early  accuflcmed. 
*'  You  would,  in  all  probability,  be  much  to  be  pitied, 
"  where  you  reduced  to  the  neceility  of  dining  on  the 
"  coarfe  food,  which  furnillies  me  with  a  continual 
*'  feafl.  And  I,  on  the  contrary^  ihould  be  equally  fo, 
*'  were  I  obliged  to  habituate  myfelf  to  your  delicate 
''  meats  with  high  fauces  :  I  flionld  not  enjoy  {o  good  a 

'  flate  of  health,  and  fhould  be  far-  lef^  contended  than 
'^  with  my  homely  fare.  It  is  the  fame  thing  in  regard 
^'  to  labor.  I  have  praclifed  bodily  labor  without  re* 
'^  laxation,  day  after  day  ;  and  I  am  i^o  much  the  more 
*'  robufl  and  more  difpofed  to  work  :  but  if  I  cxercife 
'^  my  m.ind  long  upon  any  abflrufe  point,  it  foon  brings 
'-'•  on  difgufl  and  fatigue.  In  fhort  cuflom  is  all. — If  I 
''  am  not  miflaken   in  your  opinion,  my    dt^^r  Kliyogg, 

^^  that  children  Ihould  alv/ays  follow  the  occupation  of 

'^  their 


62  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

**  their  father;  the  rcfult  of  it  would  be,  that  there 
*'  v/ould  only  be  one  profeflion  in  the  world." — '*  And 
**  where  woLiId*bc  the  misfortune  if  there  was  not  ?  re- 
^*  plied  Kliyogg^  with  a  fmilc.  If  agriculture  was  the 
**  uni'/crfal  employment  of  mankind,  and  every  one 
**  found  his  fupport  from  the  labor  of  his  hands, 
*'  v/e  (Iiould  hear  no  more  of  treachery  or  violence. 
**  Peace,  tranquillity,  and  contentment  of  mind  and  of 
**  heart  would  cflabiifh  their  refidence  on  earth  t  For  I 
<«  faithfully  afRireyoUj  Sir,  I  have  never  yet  met  with 
*'  the  perfon  with  whom  I  would  willingly  change  fitua- 
<i  tions  :  nor  have  I  ever,  to  this  prefent  hour,  felt  any 
'<  want  or  the  ilighteft  inclination  to  covet  the  poifeffion 
*«of  what  belonged  to  another!" — ''But  your  fons,  af- 
**  ter  all,  can  hardly  avoid  embarrailing  each  other  : 
*'  youreflate  (excufeniy  repetition  of  the-queftion)  can 
«*  it  be  fu^icient  to  maintain  them  all  I — Yes,  Sir  ;  the 
■*^  'produdions  of  the  earth  are  always  in  proportion  to  the 
*^  culture,  I  have  long  been  iolicitous  to  fee  my  chil- 
*^  ^\tv\  of  a  proper  age  to  aflift  me  in  bringing  this  farm 
«*  to  as  high  a  degree  of  perfedion,  as  the  land  is  capa- 
**  ble  of;  and  wlien  that  is  accomplifhed,  there  yet  re- 
^^  main  large  traces  of  neglected  ground  in  our  neighbor- 
*'  hood,  which  may  be  purchafed  for  a  trifle,  and  where 
*^  we  may  undertake  new  improvements.  There  will 
*'  always  be  a  greater  want  of  laboring  hands,  than  of 
**  materials  to  excrcife  them  upon/' — ''  But  you  are  not 
*'  immortal,  Kliyogg,  and  your  death  may  be  the  caufc 
*^*  of  divifion  among  your  children.  When  your  for- 
«'  tune  becomes  feparated,  will  they  be  able  with  the 
*^  fmal!  allotment  afiigned  each,  to  continue  their  pre- 
*'  fent  way  of  life  J" — ''  It  is  precifely  for  that  very 
*'  reafon  that  they  mufl  not  divide  the  eftate  ;  but  murt 
<'  ufe  their  united  efforts  to  keep  up  its  value/' — ''  How 
^*  is  that  prafticable  ?  there  is  no  poflibility,  that  fo  ma- 
*^  ny  perfons  fhould  be  moved  by  the  fame  inclinations.— 
^'  Why  not,  Sir,  when  experience  has  taught,  that  the 
*'  iif^   they  lead  renders  them  haj^py  and   contented, 


THE  KUP.AL  SOCRATES.  (^3» 

^*  and  when  they  have  no  farther  wifhes. to  gratify  ? 
«'  From  their  infancy  they  will  have  beea  in-ured  to  la- 
*'  bor.  The  profits  of  that  will  yield  them  abundant 
*'  food  and  raiment ;  and  knowing  no  other  wants,  their 
*' defires  will  extend  no  faithcr." — '^  Yet,  furcly  the 
*'  fuppofition  is  not  very  improbable,  th?.t  in  fuch  a 
*'  number  fome  one,  fooner  or  later,  may  afpire  to  a  bet- 
**  ter  manner  of  living  ;  may  {igh  for  more  delicate 
*■*  food,  or  finer  raiment  ;  and  v/hat  then  will  become 
V  of  this  happy  union  ?" — *'  Thofe  (replied  Kiiyogg) 
"  once  habituated  to  a  certain  mode  of  living,  and 
*'  who  find  that  mode  to  conftitute  their  happinefs, 
^'  arc  not  very  likely  to  abandon  it  for  another  they 
*'  are  unacquainted  with^  and  which  their  reafon  dif- 
*' approves.  On  this  principle,  I  guard  my  children 
*'  with  the  utmoft  circumfpedion  from  being  prefent 
*'  in  anyplace  that  may  tempt  them  to  idlenefs,  luxury, 
*'  or  debauchery.  When  early  impreiTions  are  fortifi- 
*'  cd  by  time,  there  is  little  danger  of  their  being  era- 
*^  fed.  I  take  all  opportunities  to  convince  them  that 
^'  vicious  habits  precipitate  men  into  ruin  ;.  and,  on  the 
*^  contrary,  that  true  happinefs  is  the  conlequence  of  a 
**  regular  and  conflant  attachment  to  the  obligations  of 
'-'  their  ilation." — '^  We  will  take  it  for  granted,  (re- 
*'  plied  my  friend)  that  your  maxims  may  be  fo  deeply 
^'  rooted  in  thcmindsand  hearts  of  your  defcendants,  as 
''to  flifle  all  inclination  towards  a  more  delicate  man- 
^'  ner  of  living  ;  yet  there  m.uft  be  a  contrariety  cf  opis- 
*'  ion  in  many  articles  where  the  command  can  only 
*'  proceed  from  one,  and  the  rcll  mufc  confent  to  be 
''  governed.'' — *'  He  who  is  the  moil  induflrious,  ra- 
*'  tional,  and  intelligent,  has'  a  natural  right  to  com- 
^^  mand.  Where  there  are  no  irregular  defii'es  to  in- 
^*  tcrfere,  what  is  true  and  jufl  will  be  eafily  diicerncd 
"  by  the  mof^  limited  underllandings  :  And  if  any  vi* 
*'  cious  inclinations  ihould  venture  to  appear,  he  who 
"  exercifes  the  authority  of  mafter  will  know  how  to 
''  fupprefJ  them  in  the  bud,  by  having  recourfe  to  ap- 

^^  nrove^ 


^4  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

**  proved  and  eftablidied  regulations,  and  retting  them 
''  an  exemplary  pattern.  He  will  have  no  other  pre- 
''  rogative  over  the  reft,  but  in  work  ;  and  it  will  only 
*'  be  when  he  aims  at  mere  commandj  that  they  will 
<■' fubmit  to  his  authority  with  patience.  Thus  I  have 
'^  great  caufe  to  truft  in  the  goodnefs  of  Providence 
*'  that  my  poftcrity  will  long  remain  united  and  undif- 
"  turbed,  without  a  thought  of  dividing  their  patrimo- 
*'  ny,  or  a  temptation  to  embrace  any  other  profef- 
*'  fion."*    ''  Ifubmit  to  the  wifdom  of  your  arguments, 

^'  (concluded 

*This  converfation  wilfuncloubteilly  appear  tedious  to  many  rea(!ers  ; 
but  I  apprehend,  to  psrfons  of  a  benevolent  tarn  of  mind  it  will  be  inrcreft- 
log  ; — Yet  a  rational  alTent  to  what  Kliyogg  advances,  is,  perhaps,  not  (o 
eafily  obtaineci.  We  are  apt  to  confider  the  expe<f\ation  of  Kliyogg  as  chi- 
merical, and  contrary  to  what  experience  teaches  as  to  the  nature  of  the 
human  heart,  and  the  diverfity  of  difpofitions.  It  is  not,  however,  impof- 
lible  to  produce  fa^s  that  as  ftiongly  corroborate  the  fyfteno  of  our  riiral 
philofopher,  as  the  ordinary  courfeof  things  feems  to  oppofe  it. 

I  (hall  relate  one  which  I  had  from  an  ecclefiaftic,  refpeftable  for  his 
age,  manners,  and  information  :  He  is  related  to  the  perfons  of  whom 
he  {peaks,  and  has  vifited  them  frequently.  I  (hall  tranfcribe,literalIy,froni 
my  common  place-bonk,  the  account  I  received  from  him,  above  a  year 
before  I  knew  chuc  fuch  a  man  as  Kliyogg  exifted, — There  is  a  family  in 
Upper  Provence,  which  is  in  poffcffion  of  authentic  letters  of  NohleCe, 
granted  to  one  of  their  anceftors  by  Saint  Louis,  at  the  time  that  he  was 
in  Egypt  ;  for  having  (astjjie  patent  certifier)  faved  the  King  and  his  ar- 
ray, then  in  iintninent  danger.  This  family  lives  in  the  mod  obfcure  kind 
of  mediocrity  ;  upon  their  own  eftare,  it  is  true  ;  but  by  cultivating  it 
with  their  own  hands.  They  are  independent,  but  enjoy  no  other  advan- 
tages above  common  peafants.  The  eldeft  fon  always  fucceeds  to  the  ef- 
Eate  ;  and  the  younger  branches,  who  leave  the  family  feat  when  they 
marryy  are  paid  a  thoufand  French  livers..  Their  alliances  are  wiih  fim- 
ple  peafants  ;  and  though  their  common  way  of  life  is  in  the  ruftic  ftile, 
they  entertain  their  guefts  nobly  with  wild  fowl,  pigeons,  and  game. 
When  they  have  been  advifed  to  avail  themfehcs  of  the  advantages  an- 
nexed to  a  nobility,  fj  ancieut  in  its  origin,  and  founded  on  fuchdiilin- 
guilhed  ferviccs;  they  anfwer,  that  they  have  always  lived  peaceably  and 
contentedly  in  li.jt  laborious  retirement,  which  is  the  extent  of  their  wifhes : 
and  that  the  tu'iult  fnfeparable  from  rank  and  riches,  excited  their  dillike 
lather  than  defire.  Their  happy  abode  is,  in  ieaii:y,the  feat  of  peace  and 
innocence,  of  candor  and  purity  of  manners.  What  is  Hill  more  extraordi- 
nary, not  one  of  the  defccr.dants  of  this  honorable  lateil/  has  ever  devi- 
ated from  the  way  cf  thinking  of  his  anceftori,  Thofe 


fHE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  6^ 

*<  (concluded  my  friend  ;)  remain  fleady  to  your  prin- 
<«  ciplcs,  they  cannot  fail  to  be  attended  with  the  moit 
*^  happy  conlcqacnces.  Heaven  will  crown  your  per* 
**  feverance  with  a  bieding,  and  you  will  beh'old  peace, 
'^concord,  and  affection  reign  amongft  your  latcit  de- 
"  fcendants/' 

The  brother  of  Kliyogg  was  laft  year  (1761)  nomi- 
nated by  the  village,  as  maflcr  of  the  fchool  kept  in  it  3 
an  event,  which  our  country  philofopher  regarded  as 
fortunate.  He  conceived  an  imnjediate  hope  of  feci ng^^ 
his  principles  reduced  to  a  more  extended  pratlice  ;  ana 
of  communicating  to  his  countrymen  a  (hare  of  that  fc-* 
llcity  which  he  himfelf  enjoyed,  ever  flnce  the  introduc-^ 
tion  of  good  order  in  his  domeflic  affairs.  He  came  to 
participate  his  joy  with  me. — ''  Sir,  (fays  he)  I  am  in 
*'  a^lual  poffeilion  of  a  fpecies  of  authority,  which  will  add 
^*  weight  to  my  remonftrances.  You  cannot  think  what 
**  influence  authority  has  in  promoting  public  good,  if 
*^  properly  exercifsd.— My  firfl  attempt  (hail, be  on  the 
*'  children,  which  will  be  attacking  the  evil  at  the  root  5 
*'  for  good  feed  can  never  make  any  progrefs,  till  the 
*■  weeds  are  extirpated.  This  operation  is  eafy  before 
*Vthey  have  acquired  firm  hold.  L  would  fooner  un^ 
*^  dertake  to  educate  a  dozen  children,  than  attempt  to 
*'  communicate  my  principles  to  a  (ingle  grown  perfon. 
'*  Habit  teaches  men  to  regard  as  a  treafure,  the  vice 
^'  they  have  been  long  attached  to  ;  and  ,  to  treat  as  a 
*>  dangerous  innovator,  him.  who.  ventures  to  attack 
*' eflablilhed  cuftoms,  however  pernicious." 

^.Kliyogg  left  to  his  brother  the  care  of  inflruding  the 

children,  and  purfued  himlelf  the  more  indcfatigably^ 

I  the ' 

Thofe  wlio  are  dcfirous  of  more  public  and  csore  geceral  exaniples,  mzy 
fi«(i  them  in  Jofephus's  account  of  ihc  Efleoea  ;  a  people,  whofe  tenor  of 
life  naay  throw  (ome  probability  on  che  opinion  of  Kliyogg,— Sec  alfo  i^ 
t^e  fcquel,  the  Marqois  tie  Mirabeau's  firft  Letter ;  and  th^  accounts  iiktK\' 
from  the  Count  dc  Treffan  and  the  Journal  (Xcpn^oai^^jce,      'i\ 


66  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

the  labors  of  the  hnfbandman  :  referving  to  bimfelf  the 
£nging-fchool  ;  where  he  employed,  as  is  cuftomary,  the 
hours  after  fupper,  on  Saturdays.-— Vocal  rtiufic  has 
ever  been  his  mofl  delightful  recreation  ;  and  he  has  the 
notes  of  LobwafTer's  pfalms  by  heart  j*  whilft  his  bro- 
ther has  much  lefs  (kill  and  tafte. 

Kliyogg 

*  Claude  Goud'meh  a  famous  mufician  of  Franche  Comte,  (who  ww 
3nurd€red  at  Lyons  on  St,  Bartholomew's  day)  coirpofed  the  mufiC)  for  a 
poetical  tranflation  of  the  Pfalter  by  Clement  Marot  and  Theodore  de 
Beze.  Lobwafferj  publifhed  foon  after  a  German  tranflation  in  the  fame 
meafure,  adapted  to  the  raufic  of  Goudimcl. — The  greaterpartof  thePro- 
tcftant  chorcbes,  (lill  ufe  mufic,  which,  without  difcoveringany  great  fci- 
ence,  has  fomething  folemn  and  harmonious. — The  French  churches  have 
fubftituted  Conrart's  verficn  of  the  pfalms,  for  that  by  Beze  and  Ma- 
rot; though  the  former  difplays  no  extraordinary  genius  in  poetry. — The 
Swifs  and  feme  of  the  Germans,  ftill  fing  the  words  of  LobwafTer  ; 
nclwithftanding  his  language  is  more  obfoleie  and  unintellfjgible  to 
them,  than  that  of  Marot  and  Beze  to  the  French.  A  proof  that  ancient 
cuftoms  are  often  preferred  to  common  fenfe,  is,  that  the  vcrfion  publifhed 
about  twenty  years  ftnce,  by  M.  Spring,  profcffor  of  rhetoric  at  Bafie, 
Ihould  not  yet  be  adopted  in  all  thefe  churches;  though  made  to  corref- 
pond  with  Goudimers  mufic,  and  fuperior  even  to  the  new  French  ver- 
jion. — But  on  the  other  hand,  the  attention  employed  in  teaching  the  peo- 
ple, particularly  in  country  parifnes,  to  fing  with  propriety,  is  worthy  of 
obfervation.  A  ft  ranger  woyld  be  furprifed  to  hear  pfalms  in  four  parts, 
fung  with  judgment  in  a  village  church.  The  canton  of  Zurich  is  re- 
markable forgooil  finging. 

I  (hall  tranfcrihe  a  ftill  more  furprlftrg  faft,  related  by  the  penetrating 
and  ingenious  author  of  **  EJfojs  on  various fubjedSi  inter^Jiing  u  politics 
^*  and  morality^*'  which  perhaps  will  not  be  thought  inapplicable  to  the 
prefent  fub}?d.  ♦'  The  difcoveiies  of  the  learned"  (fays  that  diflinguiih- 
ed  writer^  whom  my  country  honors)  **  would  he  an  ufelefs  acqoifition, 
•«  if  they  did  cot  extend  to  the  proprietors  of  eftates,  and  remained  unin» 
««  telligible  to  the  hufbandman^  For  the  information  of  the  laborer,  ac- 
••  curate  abridgments  ought  to  be  complied  ;  explaining  in  clear  and 
•*  fimple  terms,  thefirft  elements  of  agriculture,  and  the  beft  praflical  lo- 
**  cal  rules.  Thefe  abridgments  (hould  be  introduced  into  fchoojs  where 
*•  the  children  of  the  peifantp  are  educated  ;  a  meihod  that  has  been  often 
**  recommended,  and  cannot  be  too  often  addreffed  to  the  coniideration  of 
•*  government.  —  Noi  let  it  be  regarded  as  chimerical,  to  inforoi  the  mindo 
«*  of  the  common  people  ;  for  experience  proves  its  prafticability.  A 
«« German  prince,  E/neft  the  pious,  Duke  of  SaxeGotha,  entirely  changed 
♦•  chc  fac»  of  bis  principality,  more  than  a  cer.tary  ajo,     Tiuly  gteat  bjr 

»«lii* 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  6y 

Kliyogg  entered  upon  his  office  at  the  fingiiig  fchooi 
by  ablblutely  forbidding  his  mulical  fcholars  to  ramble 
about  the  ftreets  after  they  left  fchooi  at  night,  or  to  call 
in  at  the  tavern  :  a  prohibition  that  raifed  anew  the  cla- 
mor of  the  village  againft  him.  He  was  menaced  on 
every  fide  ^  but  his  courage  remained  unconquerable. 
He  (hut  his  fchooi  againft  all  who  were  refra<Slory  ;  an- 
ticipating any  intention  of  theirs,  by  threatening  to  lodge 
a  complaint  with  the  minifler  of  the  parifh  ;  and,  if  his 
admonition  was  flighted,  to  have  recourfe  to  civil  au- 
thority. His  endeavors  here  again  were  fuccefs- 
ful  ;  and  his  fcholars  (the  only  ones,  perhaps,  in  the 
country  who  did  fo)  walked  quietly  home  from  his 
fchooi  every  evening. — He  made  them  fenfible,  by  de-"^ 
grces,  of  the  ridiculous  abfurdity  of  the  diverfions  at 
the  carnival  and  on  the  eve  at  St.  Nicholas,  Sec.  He 
went  farther  ;  he  extended  his  remonilrances  to  thofe  in 
Advent ;  and  put  a  flop,  for  the  firfl  time,  to  the  inde-- 

cent 


<*  his  civil  virtues,  be  had  his  people  Inftrufted  by  compendlums  of  every 
**  kind  of  ufeful  knowledge,  which  were  put  inio  ihe  hands  of  the  pea- 
«'  fants  in  all  country  fchooh  ;  where  ihey  were  taught  even  coufic  and 
*'  drawing.  Though  thefe  inftituiions  no  longer  exift  iri  their  original 
''  rpirit,  i:  is  yet  amazing  to  obferve  the  difference  of  infornration  in  this 
*'  and  the  adjacent  circles.  The  villages  have  good  mufic  m  all  their 
**  churches  ;  and  there  are  few  where  it  is  not  eafy  to  affemble  a  band  of 
"  peafants,  capable  of  performing  in  concert  the  beft  Italian  corupoGtions/* 
—This  is  not  an  imaginary  fa(fl  k  this  author  fpeaks  from  his  own  know- 
ledge; andlhavefeenthe  ii«S  paffed  by  Duke  Erncft. 

Since  writing  the  above  note,  I  have  been  credibly  inforo^ed,  that  at  Wx- 
difchwcil,  in  the  canton  of  Zurich,  the  inhabitants  have  eftsblifhed  a  week- 
ly concert  :  The  performers  are  tv.'elve  peafants,  who  meet  on  an  appoint- 
ed day  ;  and  there  are  two  upon  the  violin,  whofe  execution  would  be 
pronounced  excellent  in  a  concert  of  the  firft  mailers.  At  TscMlit-ken,  a 
very  fmall  village,  there  is  an  harmonic  focieiy  ;  and  at  Huttinguen, 
another  village  in  the  fame  canton,  they  have  a  concert-hall,  where  vocal 
and  inftrumental  pieces  of  Italian  mnfic  are  performed. 

It  is  well  known  in  Germanv,  that  the  peafanis  of  the  famous  villagr 
of  Stroepke,  dependent  on  the  bailiwick  of  Zilly,  in  the  principality  of 
Halberftadt,have  been  long  acknowledged  as  the  hcfl  chefs  players  in  Eu- 
rope. Thus  indifputable  is  the  h&y  that  there  is.no  fpecies  of  knowledge 
which  the  clafs  of  peafants  arc  not  capable  of  coatprehcnding  \     F, 


6$  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

cent  diforcler  that  had  hitherto  profaned  the  eve  that 
precedes  the  birth  of  cm  Saviour  ;  a  remarkable  proof  of 
the  efficacy  of  fleady  perfeverancc  in  thofe,  who  areen- 
tnifted  with  the  execution  of  the  laws. — The  better  to 
cnfure  an  obfervance  of  the  ucv^  regulations  which  he 
introduced  in  the  fchool,  he  determined  to  bound  his 
expe<^ations  of  advantage  within  the  very  moderate  fa- 
Jary  afiigned  ;  and  to  refufe  tlie  fmallell:  prelent  v/hat- 
ibever.  '^  It  is  our  frailty  and  venality  in  this  article, 
'^  (faid  he)  that  weakens  the  influence  of  the  wifell  re- 
''  gulations.  ■  Men  oHer  to  their  fiiperiors  the  flattering 
*-^  bait,  and  from  the  rtiotnent  thcfe  extend  their  hands 
*'  to  receive  it,  thoie  hands  become  jncapable  of  relilt- 
'Mng  the  progrefs  of  corruption.'^ 

Kliyogg  has  been  peculiariy  attentive  to  render  bis 
family  independent,  by  maki'^g  his  eftate  produce  as  far 
as  is  praiSlible,  whatever  is  necefTary  for  clothing,  as 
well  as  food. — With  this  view,  he  has  had  one  of  his 
daughters;  inftrudled  in  weaving  ;  and  has  appropriated 
a  room  to  that  employment. 

Yet  he  does  not  hold  in  high  cflimation  the  works 
cai^ried  on  by  aikgreat  nimiber  of  the  peafants,  in  manu- 
facbures  of  various  kinds,  where  a  foiall  exertion  of 
flrength  is  required  ;  ar'id  which,  from  their  (edentary 
nature,  relax  their  ardor  for  the  rougher  labors  of  the 
field,  and  diminifli  their  ftrength.  The  too  great  en- 
couragement of  manufactures  infenfibly  deprives  the 
land  of  proper  culture,  and  confequently  occafions  the 
ruin  cf  agriculture  ! 

He  is  not,  how^ever,  for  rejeiTLIng  manufa^lnrcs  abfo- 
•luteiy,  but  regards  them  as  very  advantageous  when  un- 
der proper  r,ce;nlatinus  :  I'hey  afford  fubfiftence  to  ma- 
ny, who  have  no  land  to  cultivate  ;  and  to  others,  v/hom 
jiaturai  infirmities,  or  the  efTe^ls  of  difcafe,  render  in- 
capable of  the  toils  of  hulbandry.  ''  Manufa (Tories, 
-^  (C'Jild  he)   rjc  to  be  considered  in  t^he   fame  light  as 

"  hofpitals  ; 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  69 

*'*  hofpitals  :  Efbabliihnients  of  this  fort  are  an  iuva- 
**  luable  refource  to  the  fick  and  decrepid  ;  but  when 
*'  we  receive  into  them  the  healthy  and  robuft,  we  open 
*'  a  door  to  idlenels,  and  are  acceffary  to  the  deflruc- 
*'  tion  of  cur  country." — In  general  he  weighs  every 
qneilion,  relatively  to  the  influence  it  may  have  upon 
the  mind  or  manners.  Thus  an  apparently  great  ad- 
vantage would,  in  his  edimation,  be  a  really  great  evil, 
if  it  tended  to  debauch  the  morals  of  the  people. — ^On 
this  principle,  he  fets  very  little  value  on  the  fiouriihing 
flate  of  commerce  ;  as  he  apprehends  its  mod  general 
effeds  are  to  introduce  an  inordinate  love  of  money, 
debafe  generous  fentiments,  and  familiarize  the  mincj 
with  fraud. 

The  uncommon  fertility  of  the  year  T761,  confider* 
ably  lowered  the  price  of  corn  :  The  farmers,  alarmed, 
broke  itito  indecent  and  offenlive  murmurs.  The  moft 
fubilantlal  amongfl  them  refufed  to  Cdl^  and  took  meaf- 
ures  to  preierve  their  corn  till  the  markets  liioujd  rife. 
— Kliyogg,  fo  far  from  complaining,  enjoyed  a  heart- 
felt fatisfa£lion,  that  the  poor  laborer  could  eat  his 
morfel  of  bread  at  a  moderate  price  :  he  got  rid  of  his 
corn  at  the  current  price,  at  the  time  he  had  been  ac- 
cuftomed  to  fell  it  ;  convinced  that  it  was  better  econ- 
omy to  employ  immediately  the  fmall  fum  it  amounted 
to, -in  the  improvement  of  his  lands,  than  to  hoard  it  up 
in  a  granary  till  a  more  lucrative  opportunity, — He  of- 
ten is  {hocked  at  the  hypocrify  of  thofe  men,  who  on 
every  bargain  they  flrike,  whether  they  may  have  over- 
reached their  neighbor  or  not  ;  make  a  parade  of  the 
benediction  of  heaven  in  their  favor,  and  are  always  re- 
peating, '' God  be  praifedl"  The  thanklgivings  indeed 
witli  which  they  aifront  the  fupreme  Being,  arc,  in  gen- 
eral, expredive  of  their  inlatiable  avidity  after  riches  ; 
which  are  almofl:  always  acquired  to  the  injury  of  oth- 
ers. The  true  manner  of  praifmg  the  Deity,  is  to  be 
contented  v/ith   what   we  h?>ve  earned  by   indufcrious 

application. 


-# 


/o  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

application,   without   envying  the    poffefiions  of   an- 
cther. 

Kliyogg  recommends  to  all  the  members  of  his  fami- 
ly, a  condant  attention  to  neatneis  in  their  drefs  ;  but 
forbids  every  appearance  of  luxury.  The  flrongefi  and 
leafl  expenfive  fluffs  and  linens,  are  v/hat  he  prefers. 
Extravagance  in  clothes,  in  his  opinion,  is  one  of  the 
moft  frequent  caufes  of  misfortune  to  families  ;  and  is, 
#>f  all  pafTions,  the  mod  ridiculous  and  irrational. — 
When  bufinefs  calls  him  to  the  city,  he  wears  a  coarfe 
grey  furtout  coat,  with  Aeel  clafps  ;  and  this  is  to  be 
confidered  as  his  holiday  fuit.  His  brother  puts  it  on 
in  turn,  and  it  fcrves  both  of  them  for  their  journeys  to 
the  city. 

As  the  grand  purfuit  in  all  his  operations,  is  to  arrive 
St  the  end  propofed  by  the  fhorteil:  way  ;  and  as  his  na- 
tive fagacity  readily  points  that  out  ;  the  mod  exadb  or- 
der and  decorum  prevail  in  every  part  of  his  houfe, 
and  every  utenfil  is  placed  in  the  very  fpot  \yhere  it 
will  be  mod  convenient. — This  principle  is  not  only  the 
foundation  of  his  economical  fydem,  ^'  but  ferves  as  a 
guide  to  his  moral  condu6l. 

Nothing  appears  to  him  more  clear  and  determinate, 
than  the  ideas  we  ought  to  entertain  of  judice  and  hon- 
or.— ''Every  man  (fays  lie)  may  read  in  his  own 
*^  bread,  what  he  ought  to  do  or  avoid,  in  fuch  or  fuch 
*^  cireumdances.  All  that  is  required,  when  our  inte'r- 
^'^  ed  happens  to  be  in  oppodtion  to  that  of  another,  is 
**  to  inquire  Vvathln,  how  we  diould  wiOi  to  be  treated 
*^  in  a  iimilar  fituation  ;  and  to  obferve  during  the 
*'  courfe  of  this  proceeding,  whether  our  heart  is  tran- 

''  quil 

*  Thofc,  only,  who  have  e -/pfjlencfd  how  moch  a  fpicit  of  order 
farihtatnj,  as  well  3s  nccekrata  all  operations,  can  conceive  how  our  cul- 
ii^vatorhas  been  able  to  accomplilo.  wi:h  fo  fe-v  alfiflants,  ihefeveral  taOts 


THE  RURAL   SOCRATES.  71 

^'  quil  and  fatisfied.'* — It  is  in  felf-approbation  for  hav- 
ing fulfilled  our  duty  ;  it  is  in  inward  complacency  re- 
fulting  from  fuch  convi<ftion,  that  according  to  him  true 
happinefs  confifts.  Hedifcerns  in  theconfequences  na- 
turally attending  our  anions,  the  recompenles  or  chal^ 
tifements  of  Providence.  In  the  fame  manner  that 
plenty  is  the  recompenfe  of  a(Iiduous*and  laborious  toil, 
fo  peace  and  ierenity  of  mind  are  the  reward  of  virtuous 
condudt. 

I  never  fawKliyogg  melancholy.  Even  when  he  has 
had  recourie  to  my  advice  in  illnefs,  I  have  always 
found  him  perfecflly  compofed.  His  animated  eyes,  and  a 
face.whofe  frefhncfs  of  complexion  denoted  the  vigor  of 
his  conftitution,  hud  always  a  gay  and  open  appearance  ; 
and  continued  to  difclofe  air  the  beauties  of  his  mind  to 
a  fkilful  phyfiognomirt. 

He  has  a  flrong  propendty  to  friendfhip,  which  he 
contradts  with  facility. — Whatever  ardor  he  has  for  la- 
bor, he  quits  it  with  pleafure  when  it  can  oblige  a  friend. 
He  came  one  day  to  my  houfe,  when  I  was  jull  fetting 
out  for  Brugg,  to  pay  a  vifit  to  Dr.  Zimmerman,  a  phy- 
fician*  in  that  town,  of  whom  I  was  infinitely  fond.  I 
knew  I  flioald  procure  this  worthy  philanthropill  pecu- 
liar 

•M.  Zimmerman  was  »  pupil  of  the  celebrated  Baron  de  Haller;  snd 
like  that  great  man,  united  to  a  confurnmate  knowledge  in  phyfic,  \ifj 
diftingitilhed  talents  in  all  branches  of  literature.  He  wrote  an  effay  oa 
imtional pride  :  and  we  have  few  compofitions  in  the  German  tongue  th?c 
difcover  fuch  depth  of  genius  or  elegance  of  diftion. — This  excel- 
lent writer  has  given  more  deciftvc  proofs  of  his  uncomiuon  talents  in  a 
large  work  afterwards  puhlifhed  upon  Uxperience  in  phjjic.  In  the  opin- 
ion of  a  very  able  man*  who  is  a  competent  judge  of  the  fubjei^,  this  bock. 
would  do  honor  to  a  Boerhaave,  a  Haller,  or  a  Van  SwietenT. — lA.  Zim- 
iDernaan  has  been  for  many  years  firft  phyfician  to  the  Court  of  Hanorefa 
and  enjoys  a  great  reputation.     F. 

N.  B.  Dr.  Zimicerman  was  the  phyfician,  whom  the  fatnoos  King  of 
Prulfia  fenl  for  to  attend  him  in  his  laft  Wnefs.  Dr.  Zimmerman  pub- 
liihed  an  account  of  what  pa&d  oa  this  occaiioH,  He  b  hint>fs)f  fiocc<J»-. 
ffcafcJ,     £, 


72  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

iiar  fatisfadiion^  in  furniQiing  his  eager  curioiity  w'uh  an 
opportunity  of  noticing  the  excellence  of  the  human 
character,  in  a  (late  To  nearly  reiembling  that  of  nature. 
Kiiyogg  was  unwilling  to  rcfufe  my  entreaties,  to  favor 
me  with  his  company  ;  though  he  had  ten  leagues  to 
travel  back  the  next  day. 

However  univerfal  is  the  benevolence  of  Kiiyogg  to  all' 
mankind,  he  makes  their  zeal  for  truth  and  their  integ- 
rity, the  ftandard  of  his  afte^ftion  ;  and  his  penetration 
in  thefe  refpev^s  is  altogether  extraordinary. 

The  converfation  of  Kiiyogg  is  eafy  and  unconflrain- 
cd,  even  from  the  firft  moment  of  acquaintance  ^  he  has 
great  eloquence,  and  a  fimplicity  ofcxprellion  peculiar  to 
himfelf  and  which  he  cannot  owe  to  imitation.  To  il- 
luflrate  his  meaning,  he  is  often  obliged  to  make  ufe  of 
comparifons  and  metaphors,  which  have  always  the  mofl 
cxacl  relation  to  the   thought   he  wiflies  to  exprcfs. 

I'hough  hefpeaks  yi^ith  facility  and  fatisfai^ion,  he  h 
equally  willing  to  be  filent,  if  he  finds  that  he  is  not  at- 
tended to  with  pleafure.  He  then  devotes  his  whold 
notice  to  the  difcouife  of  the  company  ;  and  his  fenfi- 
ble  and  judicious  replies  demonflrate  that  he  fuffers 
nothing  to  eicape  him. 

He  felzes  with  avidity  all  truths  at  the  firfl  mo- 
ment; and  rejeds  nothing  bccaufe  of  its  novelty  and  be- 
fore he  has  thoroughly  examined  its  intrinfic  merit.  In 
this  ji^rticular  he  is  diametrically  oppofite  to  mod  coun- 
trymen, whofe  hereditary  prejudices  may  be  regarded  as 
part  of  their  elTence. 

When  Kiiyogg  attains  any  beneficial  difcovery,  noth- 
ing intcrcds  him  more  than  to  impart  it  toothers  ;  and 
he  takes  all  imaginable  pains  to  convince  them  of  ita 
utility,  and  to  conquer  their  prepofTeffions. 

Never  is  Kiiyogg  more  happy,  than  when  he  happens 
^ofalUintoa  conference,  where  the  fpeakers  difcufs^ 

vvit'h 


THE  KVKkL  SOCftAt£&.  ^g 

with  an  e.riergy  which  the  rea!  intercfl  they  take  in  tht 
queftion  infpiics,  matters  relative  to  the  public  good. 
On  thefe  occafions,  he  delivers  his  thoughts  with  a  no- 
ble franknefs,  and  examines  the  duties  of  every  f^ation 
with  fingiilar  Judgment  ;  ftrengthening  his  arguments 
with  comparifons  drawn  from  rural  economy. — He  at- 
tacks'the  errors  that  offend  him,  with  great  freedoip', 
but  in  a  manner  very  remote  from  ruflicky. 

By  this  behavior,  he  conciliates  the  eilcem  of  all  men 
of  probity,  who  know  how  to  value  merit. 

I  have  introduced  him  into  many  Companies,  whofe 
Curiofity  had  been  much  excited  by  the  delineations  I 
had  made  of  his  condudl  and  converfationo  Nor  have 
I  ever  met  with  any  peffl:>ns  who,  at  the  conclufion  of 
his  difcourfe,  were  not  flruck  with  amazement  at  his 
good  lenfe  ;  and  did  not  confefs  to  m_e,  that  my  recftal 
of  his  vi^rtues  had  infpircd  them  with  cfceem  for  a  man 
fo  extraordinary ;  but  that  beholding  and  converiing 
with  him,  had  raifed  that  efleem  to  the  higheft  pitch.  I 
have  known  fome  perfons  peculiarly  lavifhln  their  en- 
comiums, after  having  employed  their  keeneft  fatir^  in 
throwing  Kiiyogg  and  his  admirers  intp  ridicule. 

Reiterated  trials  have  convinced  me  that,  in  general, 
the  regard  paid  to  his  character  is  in  proportion  to  the 
difcernment  and  integrity  of  the  perfon  who  beftows  it  ; 
which  will  explain  why  feveral  of  the  moil:  in- 
telligent and  virtuous  members  of  the  republic,  find 
infinite  pleafure  in  talking  with  him,  and  in  hear- 
ing his  fentiments  on  the  duties^  of  thofe  who  hold  thlb 
reins  of  government.  He  traces  before  them,  in  ef^c^ 
and  without  intending  it,  the  admired  outline  of  their 
own  way  of  thinking  and  ading  for  the  public  good. 

The  diflindlion  and  approbation  which  Kiiyogg  meets 
withj  do  not  awaken  in  hiia  the  leaft  fpark  of  vanity. 
K  Limiting 


74  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

JLimiting  ail  prctenfion  to  the  advantages  of  enlarging 
andimproving  bis  ideas  of  men  and  things,  by  frequent 
converlations  with  perfons  of  fuperior  rank  and  know- 
ledge ;  he  preferves  invariabl}^,  his  fimple  and  natural 
manners. — -When  I  acquainted  him  with  my  intention 
of  communicating  his  character  to  the  world  :  If  you 
think,  faid  he,  with  a  natural  fmil^,  it  will  in  any 
refpC(^  be  the  better  for  it,  you  are  welcome  ;  but  whe- 
ther men  praife  or  blame  me,  I  fhall  be  neither  better 
nor  worfe. 

Who  would  believe  that  envy  does  not  ceafe  to  per- 
feeute  this  worthy  being  ?  Fortunately  all  its  eiForts  only 
furniih  fredi  fubjcvftfor  praife. — I  was  diverted  one  day 
with  hearing  one  of  the  mofl:  rancorous  of  his  neighbors 
exclaim,  *^  This  Kliyogg  is  no  better  than  a  beafl  of 
*'  burthen  ;  he  is  Ihortening  his  days  by  hard  working, 
*'  and  forces  ail  his  family  to  bear  him  company! !  His 
''  whole  difcourfe  is  about  making  people  labor  and  do 
*^  good  ;  though  they  fay  that  he  does  not  allow  himfclf 
*'  much  time  to  pray  !"  "  But,  tell  me,  is  he  guilty  of 
^'  thefmallefl  degree  of  injuflicd  I  Or,  do  you  hear  ma- 
''  ny  reports  of  his  fwearing,  or  of  his  Handering  his 
''  neighbor  ?"  '' I  cannot  pretend  that  I  do  5  it  mufl 
''  even  be  granted;,  that  he  is  punctual  in  keeping  his 
^*  engagements.  I  alio  do  not  recollecl  ever  to  have 
"  heard  him  fwcar,  or  fpeak  ill  of  any  man  ;  But  he 
^*  tires  you  with  the  repetition  of  his  methods  of  farm- 
*'  ing  ;  and  is  always  particular  in  his  way  of  thinking. 
^'  For  inftance,  he  will  not  fuffer  his  children  to  fet  their 
''  feet  in  a  tavern,  or  partake  of  any  diverfion  ; 
^  and  makes  them  wear  the  fame  clothes  on  Sundays 
*'  and  Feftivals,  as  on  w^orking  days.— He  has  the  art, 
*'  however,  of  fpeaking  fo  fluently,  that  there  is  no  dif- 
*'  puting  againfl  him.  A  near  relation  of  mine,  fum^ 
*'  moned  him  lately  before  a  magillrate,  about  an  af- 
''  fair  that  had  provoked  him  to  the  higheft  pitch.  He 
'^  confelFed  to  me,  on  coming  out  of  tl^e  court,  that  he 

''  had 


TflE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  75 

.*<  had  been  forced,  inprefence  of  the  judge,  to  acknow- 
*'  ledge  that  Kliyogg  was  in  the  right  in  every  article  ; 
**  though  he  was  convinced  then,  as  well  as  afterwards, 
^''  that  he  was  in  the  wrong  ;  and  that  furely  he  muft 
>*'  have  bewitched  hisrcafon." — Would  to  heaven  (laid 
I  inwardly)  that  all  my  enemies  may  have  no  worfc 
things  of  which  to  accuie  me. 

I  had  no  farther  view  in. commencing  an  acquaintance 
r^nth  Kliyogg,  than  that  of  extending  and  improving 
my  knowledge  in  rural  economy.  I  rated  my  own  abil- 
ities much  above  the  fimplicity  of  a  peafant  ;  and  meant 
to  irvftrucl  him  ;  and,  by  attacking  and  fubduing  any 
■prejudices  he  might  have  contracted  to  put  him  into  the 
method  of  trying  nev/  experiments  in  hufDandry.  I  in- 
tended communicating  thefe  to  the  Philofophical  Socie- 
ty ;  which  at  that  period,  piirpofed  to  excite  by  premi- 
lims,  the  mofi:  rational  and  induflrious  cultivatois  to 
put  in  pradlice  fuch  rules  for  the  improvement  of  land, 
as  fhouid  be  acknowledged  befb  to  anfwer  that  pur- 
pofe.' — But  what  was  my  c^flonifnmenr,  to  fird  in  this 
villager,  a  man  entirely  divefled  of  prejudice  ;  anden- 
dowed  v/ith  a  judgment  as  perfcil  as  tliat  of  the  moR- 
celebrated  pbilorc])her  ;  his  fentiments  and  \vill  be- 
ing abfolutely  fublervient  to  reafon  1  His  turn  of  re- 
jection, his  wcrds,  his  adlions,  Itemed  always  in  p^iitcx 
harmony  with  each,  other.  When  he  dwelt  on  twc 
duties  of  the  various  ranks  in  fociety,  and  the  univerfai 
happinefs  attendant  on  their  obfervation,  I  was  ftrack 
with  veneration  :  whilfl  I  liftened,  my  cheeks  were 
inoidened  with  tears  ;  an4  f  fancied  myfelf  tranfported 
into  the  company  of  one  of  the  fages  of  ancient  Greece^ 

m 

One  day  he  found  me  in  a    deep  melancholy  ;  and 

i  could   not   forbear  expreffing  my  anguifli  in  his  pre- 

fence.  He  eacrerly  fought  to  comfort  my  deprefled  fpir- 

its,  with  all  the  zeal  of  fricnd(bip.— ''  My  dear  doctor, 

'  iWid  he  to  me   (in  the  courfe  of  a  converfation  on  the 

"  nature 


76'  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES^ 

nature  o'ijocial  obligations)  when  I  fee  a  man  give  evi- 
dent to|cens  of  difquiet  and  agitation,  I  conclude  he 
begins  to  be  dlfiatisfied  with  the  former  part  of 
his  condu^ ;  and  that  he  thinks  ferioufly  of  correcting 
his  errors,  and  entering  upon  a  new  plan  of  life.  But 
when  the  miud  is  a  prey  to  gloomy  refiecllons,  there 
is  great  danger  of  our  making  an  improper  choice, — 
How  many  are  there  who  fancy  they  have  done  all 
that  is  required,  when  they  pour  forth  a  profufion  of 
groans  and  lamentable  exclamations  1  and  who  ap- 
prehend that  religion  conliils  in  conflantly  praying, 
and  in  reading  pious  authors  j  whilil:  they  have  not 
refolution  to  do  well  in  othei:  refpet^s.  Loft  to 
tlicmfelves  and  to  lociely,  felf  reproach  is  continu- 
ally increallng  ;  and  grafi^ing  the  fhadow,  they  re- 
move farther  and  faither  from  the  lubftance  of  vir- 
tue ;  like  a  man.,  when  the  wind  has  blown  duft 
in  his  eyes,  who  thinks  to  get  it  out  by  rubbing 
them  ;  but  the  more  he  rubs,  the  more  they  be^ 
come  inflamed  and  painful. — You  vifited  our  friend 
N— — lately  on  his  death  bed.  Neither  his  know- 
ledge, piety,  nor  irreproachable  life,  furnhhed  him 
with  fufficient  motives  of  confolation.  It  is  ma- 
ny years  lince  he  fell  into  the  (late  which  I  have  de- 
(cribed,  and  funk  into  a  gloomy  defpondency,  which 
made  him  burthenfome  to  himlelf  and  others. — In 
fuch  TTiomcnts,  a  man  ought  to  recolle£l  that  he 
has  fome  duty  to  fullil  ;  and  that  an  attentive  per» 
formance  of  it,  is  the  moft  acceptable  worfhip  he  can 
pay  to  the  fupreme  Being.  The  dcfire  of  reforma- 
tion is  unavailing,  unlefs  accompanied  with  endeavors 
to  be  ufcful  to  mankind  by  fome  exertion  correfpond- 
ent  t^ur  ftation.  Induftry  and  exercile  will  reftorc 
that  tranquillity  we  have  loft,  and  awaken  in  the  ioul, 
fenfatfcns  highly  delightful  1 — I  am  no  flrangcr  to  the 
fir  ft  ft  ate  of  mind  I  have  been  dejcribing,  1  had  my 
youthful  follies,  as  well  as  other  people  ;  I  grew  fen- 
iible   of  my  errors  ;  I  felt   the  pangs  of  remorfe, 

''  and 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  77 

ff  and  was  overwhelmed  with  melancholy.  In  this  {ItUt 
f*  ation,  I  fufFered  mylelf  to  be  feduced  by  thofe  wht) 
*'  ftyje  themfelves,  Pietifls  or  the  Ele£l  (being  Herren- 
*'  hiiters  or  the  followers  of  Zin^endorf)  ;  and  1  pafTed 
*'  all  my  hours  in  reading  and  praying  ;  but  I  grew  flill 
*'  more  reftlefs  and  diflarbed,  1  am  obliged  to  my  ex- 
*'  cejlent  wife  for  leading  me  back  to  true  religion  :  It 
*'  was  fhe  who  feprefented  to  me  the  ruin  that  threat- 
'*ened  our  affairs,  and  perfuaded  me  again  to  fet  my 
!^'  band  to  the  plough.  An  immediate  reflexion  fuc- 
*5  cceded,  that  being  placed,  by  Providence,  in  the  clafs 
**  of  peaHints,  I  was  caljed  upon  to  cultivate  the  earth  ; 
*'  and  to  bring  up  my  children  to  the  lame  bufinefs. 
'^  From  that  inflaiu,  I  refolved  to  appjy  my  whole  at- 
*'  tention  to  my  farm,  and  never  to  be  a  moment  idle. 
"  I  iikewife  refolved  to  acfl  towards  all  men,  as  i  wiflied 
*'  in  fimilar  circUmriances,  they  fiiould  a6l  towards  me  ; 
*'  a  maxim  which,  according  to  the  words  of  our  Sa- 
*'  viour,  includes  all  the  law  aftd  the  prop/iets,^  After 
*'  thefe  refolutions  my  heart  grew  lighter  every  day  ; 
"  and  when, in  hoursof  relaxation,!  read  a  chapter  of  the 
^'  bible,  every  thing  appeared  clear  and  diflincl: ;  whilft 
*'  before  all  feemed  clouded  with  oblcurity.  Whenever 
^'  I  prayed,  I  experienced  the  mod  comforting  fenfa- 
*^tions;  and  I  was  then  convinced  of  the  inefficacy  of 
"-  devout  forms,  wher^  practical  duties  are  neglected  ; 
"  though  when  theie  are  fulfilled, they  give  an  extraord]- 
''  nary  force  to  the  mind.'- 

Kliyogg  was  now  filent,  I  thus  continued  the  con-^ 
veriatiQU  —  '' You  have  reafoned  admirably,  my"  dear 
"Kliyogg  and  I  acknowledge  the  truth  of  all  you  ad- 
*'  vance  ;  but  your  labors  and  mine  are  extremely  dif^ 
'' ferent.  Yours  confift  in  manual  exercife,  mine 
"chiefly  in  what  is  contemplative  ;  which  this  deje£tion 
"  of  ipiritsrenders  me  incapable  of  purlui'ng,  what  ever 

"  efforts 


*  MatN    xxii.  40.    fays,  <<  On  thefe    two   comrTsndirenfs  ijot'e  cf 
Gjd  snd  /5Xf  cfourndghhor)  hang  aU  tbe  hvt  and  the  prcohcts/'     F 


:8  THK   RURAL  SOCRATESo 

« 
*'  efforts  I  make,  or  however   llrong  is  my  inclination. 

^'  Corporal  a<fl:ivity  fortifies  the  nerves  ;  mental  aiSlivity 

*"'  enfeebles  them.     By  the   conflant  exercife  of  a  far- 

^^  mev's  life,  the  circulation  of  the  blood  becomes  more 

*^  free,  from  the  finidity  being  greater  ;  whilfl  medita- 

*'  tion  requires  a  more  fedentary  and  tranquil  life,whigh 

■*'.*  whickens  the  blood'and  occafions  a  languid  pulfe.  Thus 

*' your  occupation  is  calculated  to  banifli   melancholy, 

*'  mine  to  invite  it.     I  am  therefore  obliged,  often  to  fly 

*^  frora  refie£tion,  and   feek  diflipation  in  v/alking,  and 

*'  the  company  of  my  friends." — '•  Still  you   are  purfu- 

^'  ingyour  proper  bufmcls  (faid  Kliyogg).     In  the  con- 

*'- verfation  of  men  of  fenfe,  you  may  enter  into  dlTqui- 

^^  fitlons  tending  to  the  benefit  of  mankind,  with  far 

*^  greater  facility  than  in  your  clofet.     I  have  alv^ays 

*'  been  greatly  edified  when  you  have  been  kind  enough 

^''  to  introduce  me  into  company,  where  the  difcourfe 

"  has  turned  upon  the  daily  new  difcoveries  in  various 

^■^  branches,  and  on  the  molt  eligible  means  of  bringing 

*'  the  old  to  perfection.   MiituaJ  communication  here  in- 

^^  forms  every  one,  of  Ibmething  of  which  he  was  igno« 

^'  rant  ;  an  agreement  of  fentimcnts,.  animates  and  iup- 

^^  ports  the  execution  of  benevolence  ichemes  ;  and  a  man 

*^  can  i^:>re:id  tlic  nfe  of  whatever  he  has  difcovered. 

*^  Walking  may  alfo  be  made  an   inffru^tive  as  well  as 

'•  healthful   recreation  ;  by  enabling  you  to  examine, 

^^  with  your  own  eyes,  the  culture  of  our  farms  ;  to  dif- 

'^  ccrnthe  errors  our  huibandfiien  commit ;  and    vv'hat 

^'  defe£ls  (land  mofl  in  need  of  a  general  correction." — 

'"  You  are  in  the  right,    my  dear  Kliyogg,    (I  repljed.) 

f^  I  will  pay  obedience  co  your  advice,  and  feize  every 

"^  occafma  of  performing  my  duty.     From  this  moment 

^^  I  will  fet  myfelf  to  the  tafk  ;  that  I  may  feel  the  fweet 

^''  confcioufnefi  of  being  a  ufeful  member  of  lociety,  and 

f"  regular  in  the  practice  of  all   its  obligations;    happy 

f*  4^5.  be  able,  whenever  it  fhall  pleafe  heaven,   to  quit 

**  with  ilitisfaclion,  a  life  ipcnt  in  glorifying  my  Ci  eater. 

*'  bv  b/:"Mo-  MiVri'l  f:o  rviv  f'U-.v.v-creiturt-s/' 


# 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  79 

t  may  fafely  afiirni,  that  the  admonitions,  and  above 
all,  the  example  of  this  worthy  man,  produced  in  me  fa- 
latary  effects. — Let  it  not  be  thought  an  extravagance 
of  fancy,  if  I  compare  his  wifdom  with  that  of  Socrates  I 
The  parallel  would  have  been  much  more  ftriking,  and 
vh'tue  would  have  gained  the  admiration  and  honor  it 
deferves  ;  had  Kliyogg  met  with  a  Xenophon,  whofe 
energetic  pen  could  have  made  the  world  properly  ac- 
quainted with  his  charaiSter. 

I  am  yet  tempted  to  hope  that  this  faint  fivctch  will 
not  be  abfolutely  void  of  utility,  if  the  features  I  have 
endeavored  to  mark,  imprefs  on  the  mind  of  my  read- 
ers only  a  part  of  thofe  fenfations  I  have  experienced 
in  contemplating  the  original. — Perhaps  the  defcrip- 
tion  I  have  given,  may  be  an  inducement  to  men  of  fur 
pcrior  fcience  and  abilities,  ibmetimes  to  turn  their 
thoughts  and  obfervations  upon  the  lower  clafs  of  peo- 
ple. Our  knowledge  of  the  various  properties  and 
faculties  of  the  human  foul  might  be  rnore  complete  ; 
and  our  ideas  of  happinef?,  and  true  greatnefs  of  mind 
more  certain  and  determined  ;*  nay,  I  apprehend  the 
queftion  debated  by  the  philofophers  of  the  prefent  age,^ 
whether  fcience  and  literature  have  been  more  beneficial 
6r  injurious  to  fociety, might  again  be  refumed  with  great 
benefit. — My  Rural  Socrates  is  to  aie  a  proof,  that  the 
human  mind  is  capable,  in  all  llations,  of  difplaying  the 

whole 


♦  This  author  is  not  the  di^  philcfoplcr  who  has  entered  into  fuch  invef- 
tigations.  There  was  a  book  pubiifried  in  1756,  nearly  upon  the  fame 
plan,  intiiled,  Tae  Moral  Philcfoph/rf  by  Mr.  Hoffrpan  of  Drcfden  ;  with 
a  copper-plate  and  this  infcripiion  :  Johannes  Ludeiuig^  agri  ac  'vivea  co-^ 
lonus^  Philofophnsy  Maihematkasy  Oratory  Atttodida8us»  Cajfehud^s  frope 
Dre/dasJi  A,  lyj^.  JEtatis  41.  — In  the  Jourrml  Etrangert  for  Auguft^ 
2758,  p.  188,  there  ?s  a  curious  exiraft  fioiB  this  work.     F. 

Having  prefented  to  the  Fiench  tranflator  the  life  of  Ludwig  in  Ger- 
man, he  remarked,  that  Ludwig  had  inftrufled  himfelf  in  various  articleg 
under  great  difficoltie?,  but  had  done  little  which  wasorigisah — The  opin- 
ion of  my  friend  appears  juftified  by  the  account  given  of  Ludwig,  in  the 
3!rft  volume  of  the  EngUft;  Annoal  KegiSer,  bting  that  for  the  year  125&, 
See  there  p.  24.7,    K, 


8»  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

whole  extent  of  its  powers  ;  that  great  talents  are  never 
lofl  to  fociety  in  whatlocver  rank  he  who  pofTefles  them 
.^s  phced  ;  and  that  the  real  grandeur  oi  man  confifls 
in  adling  cpnfonhably  to  the  faculties  beftowed.  The 
hufbandnaij,  the  artifan,  the  fch  )lar,  the  magiftrate^  ev- 
ery man  accordi'ig  to  his  occupation,  will  Mnd  fufficient 
opportunities  for  the  exertion  of  thefe  faculties  ;  and 
will  render  hitnfelf  pleali  ig  to  that  Being,  whole  be- 
nevolent eye  co  nprehendi  ^.tonce  what  is  uiefultothe 
human  race  ;  provided  he  makes  a  good  ale  of  the  taFent 
he  has  received,  accordiiig  ra  his  (laiion.  A'  wile 
and  inteHigent  farmer  may  be.,  as  injflrumental  to 
the  general  pro  1  peri cy,  as  the  moft  confummate  legif- 
lator.  The  influence  of  his  example  will  infenfibly  op- 
erate upon  his  neighbors  ;  good  morals  will  prevail  in 
the  village  to  which  he  belongs,  and  from  thence  be 
ipread  ambngft  thofe  adjacent  ;  till,  by  degrees,  the 
whole  country  w?ll  reap  t^e  benefit  of  io  excellent  a  mo- 
del. Such  happinefs  cannot  elcsipe  the  eyes  of  atten- 
tive flatefmen,  who  are  defirons  to  revTrify  errors  in  gov* 
ernment  ;  and  the  utility  v/ill  then  become  general. 

This  confideration  has  induced  me  to  confiply  with 
the  importunities  of  my  friends-,  in  communicating  to 
the  public,  a  work  atfirfl  undertaken  with  the  fole  view 
of  ftiniukting  Tome  of  my  countrymen  to  ofe  their  ut- 
moft  efforts  for  the  re-eflabliihrnent  of  agriculture 
cj'mongfl:  us  ;  and  of  pointing  out  the  fliortefl  way  for 
the  attainment  of  this  laudable  purpofe.  The  inflancc 
before  us  proves  the  pollibilitv  of  fucceeding  \  and  aC 
the  fame  time  indicates  the  moil  efficacious  means  ;  that 
is  to  fay,  unremitting  ardor  and  alfiduity  in  labor  ;  with 
a  more  precife  and  comprehenfive  knowledge  of  the  belt 
methodic  of  irn pro vement.  The  tirll:  obje*i  requires  a 
general  reformation  in  the  moral  conduct!:  of  the  pea- 
fants  ;  the  fecond  depends  upon  experiments  and  obfer- 
"^ations. 

The  flrongeft  incitements  to  irdefatigable  toil  are 
Cither  the  pecuniary  adYanta2:es  arifing  from  it  ^  or  hon- 


* 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  81 

ofary  rewards  beflowed  by  the  government  and  particu- 
lar Ibcieties.    The  defire  of  public  marks  of  din.irid:ion, 
is  one  of  the  mofl  powerful  fprihgs  that  can  influence 
human  nature  :  and,  in    obferving  it  ad   fb  univerrally 
on  all  men    in  all  governments,   how  is  it  pofUble  to 
niidake  the  wife  intention  of  the  Creator,  which  feems 
flrongly  to  invite  all  legiflators  to  employ  it  ?— Indeed, 
flatefmen  of  fuperior  abilities,   in  every  age,  have  con- 
flantly  availed  themfelves  of  its  efficacy.     The  misfor- 
tune is,   that   they  ere  not   always   circumlpe£b   and 
juft,   in  the  diflribution  of  marks  of  honor  ;    which 
occafions    the    profligate    and    ignorant    to    confound 
the   marks   of  honor    with    honor    itfelf   ;    for    fince 
thofe    who    have    the    leafl   pretenfions,     frequently 
ufurp    them   through    intrigue,     they    infenfibly   lofe 
their  value. — -If  nobility  or    knighthood    always    fur- 
nifhcd  living   teflimonials   of  fervices    rendered   to  a 
country,  the  appearance  of  a   nobleman  or   a  knight, 
would  animate  every  heart  with  glorious  emulation,  to 
arrive  at  tiie  fame  diflinction  by  the  fame  path  !  But  on 
the  contrary,  when  we  behold  men  the  mofl  defpicable 
attaining  it,  as  ^vell  as  the  mod  eflimable  ;  and  that  ti- 
tles of  honor  are  often  the  reward  of  infamy  and  lewd- 
nefs  ;  all  the  effed:  will  be  to  give  rife  to  bafe  intrigues, 
which  alone  will  be  fure  to  obtain  the  prize,  however 
unworthy  the  candidate.— In  republican  governmenlSj 
to  be  chofen  into  the  magiflracy  is  an  honorable  diftinc- 
tion  :  and  happy  is  that  ftate  where  dignities  are  the  af- 
fared  recompcnfe  of  virtue  and  merit  !  Thereall  things 
flouriQi ;  and  every  citizen    is  animated  with  zeal   for 
the  public,  fince  that  alone  can  render  him  an  ol>jecl  cf 
efteem.     There  the  firfl  lefTon  of  infancy  is,  that  probi- 
ty,   talents,    and    application,    procure    confideration, 

and  conduA  to   honors.-^ But  all  is  loft  in    a  nation, 

where  honors  are  lavidied  on  idlenefs,  intemperarce, 
and  a  thoufand  other  vices  1  All  that  is  good  becomes 
cxtindl  ;  the  mofl  important  affairs  are  confided  to  bafe 
a^d  iiiadive  men,  and  become  negleded  ;  emulation 
L  vanifhes ; 


g2  THE  KU^AL  SOCRATES. 

vahiflies  ;  and  a  mean,  ferviie  condudl  is  the  only  metV 
cd  employed  to  obtain  fjcccfs* 


asSSBE 


SECTION    III. 

Qif  th&  Projeds  for   the  advancement  of  Agriculture^  fff- 
uukich  Kliyogg  gaverije  in  the  canton  of  Zurich. 

THE  following*  is  an  account  of  what  pafTcd  at  a 
meeting  of  peafants  at  Zurich,  chofen  from  the  beft  far- 
mers of  the  canton,  in  confequence  of  an  invitation' 
from  the  Philoiophical  Society.  I  endeavor  to  catch 
every  particular  of  the  life  of  our  good  Kliyogg,  which 
tends  to  iiiflriicEl:  and  interefl  ;  though  I  fear  that  the 
more  this  v/orthy  man  mixes  in  our  city,  and  the  mere 
he  frequents' a  certain  flile  of  company,  the  more  diffi- 
cult will  it  be  to  difliflgnidi  in  him  what  is  his  ovrn^ 
from  what  is  borrowed.  What  feems  hitherto  mofc  to 
have  diilinguifhed  our  country  philofopher,  is  his  riiiug 
Xjb  the  fublicic  heights  of  philofophy,  by  the  folc  force 
of  his  own  genius  and  re  fie  dl  ion  ;  unaflifted  by  books  or 
the  converfatitm  of  the  learned. 

My  defcriptionsof  Kliyogg  had  put  the  finiQiingRrokc 
in  Zurich,  to  the  intcrell  taken  in  his  characSler.  Every 
«ne  now  wifhed  to  fee  him,  and  to  hear  him  converfe  : 
fome,  becaufe  they  felt  warmly  in  his  favor  ;  and  oth- 
ers, from  the  hope  of  an  opportunity  of  being  able  to  de- 
tc£l  errors  in  my  relation  concerning  him.  The  lafb 
could  neither  comprehend  nor  rclifh  the  fa6l,  that  a 
fimplc  villager  fhould  be  wifcr  and  better  informed, 
than  many  of  our  magiflratcs,  clergy,  men  of  letters, 
and  wealthy  merchants.  They  maintained  with  vclie- 
mcnce  every  where,  that  fuck  a  charaifler  could  not  ex- 
ift.  The 

*  The  firft  part  of  this  fc6iion  13  cxtraf^ed  from  a  lelter  written  by 
Dr.  Hirzrl  to  the  French  tranflatuFy  Auguft  i,  176,3  ;.for  the  purpofe  of 
bciflg  iafsricd  in  the  Sijpplemect  to  the  fecrtnd  Frerich,  edjilcn  af  the  Rn- 
ral  Socrates  t     Et 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  83 

Tiie  d^fire  of  meeting  with  Kliyogg,  therefore,  be- 
came general. — When  it  was  found  with  what  frank- 
nefs  and  good  fcnfe  he  jfpoke,  envy  itfelf  was  conflrain^ 
ed  to  do  him  jaliice,  and  men  of  fenfe  and  virtue  gave 
him  their  friend(bif).  The  wifeH:  and  belt  infirudlcd  cf 
our  magiflratcs  did  not  dlfdain  to  converfe  with  him  reC- 
pe£ling  ths  improyerncnt  of  agriculture  and  many 
fubjecls  of  cl  vl\  orovernment. — I  Ixid  now  an  opportuai* 
ty  of  admiiing  his  wonderful  fagaclty,  and  how  deeply 
he  had  advanced  in  the  art  of  penetrating  into  charac- 
ters,  He  feized  in  a  moment  the  diflindlive  qualities 
of  each  perfon  ;  a»nd  in  his  different  conferences  foon 
found  whether  tlie  notice  paid  him  was  owing  to  curi- 
ofity,  to  a  love  for  truth,  to  vanity,  or  to  a  turn  for 
contradiction. — He  (aw  at  the  fame  time,  wiih  the  high- 
efl:  fatisfaiSlion,  thsit  his  reaibnings  did  not  fail  to  make 
imprciTion  ;  and  that  he  gained  fufiicient  influence  to  in- 
duce him  to  hope,  that  he  might  be  ufeful.  No  other 
motive  W2s  now  neceiTary  to  engage  him  to  continue 
frequently  to  vifit  thofe,  whofe  difpofitions  inclined 
them  to  relifiii,  and  whofe  fituation  enabled  them  to  af- 
(Ifr,  the  plans  for  the  public  good,  which  he  wiflied  to 
fee  executed. 

Kliyogg  had  it  particuWIy  at  heart  to  perfaade  the 
pcafants  of  his  community  to  confent  to  inclofing  their 
common  paRure  ;  which  is  an  extenfivetratft  of  land, very 
fvvampy  and  wet,  and  in  its  prefent  Hate,  of  fma)!  ad-^ 
vantage  ;  but,  in  his  opinion,  when  inclofed,  capable  of 
furnifhtng  every  farmer  with  food  for  a  rruich  greater 
number  of  cattle,  and  of  augmenting  manure  in  the 
^kme  proportion,  lb  material  to  good  culttire. 

Kliyc^g  was  fenilble  that  the  Pbilofophical' Society 
was  occupied  with  vievv^  congenial  to  his  own,  and  ani- 
mated v/ith  the  fajne  zeal.  He  cam«  often  to  its  aOcm- 
blies,  and  communicated  his  ideas  on  the  methods  to  be 
pnrfued,in  cafe  they  defired  that  agriculture  (bould  flour- 
ifh.'T^He  above  all  recommended  their  extending  their 

complaifance 


84  THE  RUHAL  SOCIIA TES. 

complaifance  fo  far  as  to  hear  the  opinion  of  the  peafants 
from  their  own  mouths,  and  rcgularl}/  to  confer  with 
them.  '^  It  can  only  be  by  thefe  conferences  (laid  he) 
^'  that  you  will  ever' form  jufl  ideas  of  the  flate  of  our 
*'  agriculture  ;  determine  the  precife  pofition  our  cuU 
^'  tivators  have  reached  ;  and  afcertainthe  caufes  which 
*'  have  prevented  their  farther  progrefs.  Thefe  marks 
^^  of  confideration  for  their  flation  and  underftanding, 
"  will  engage  their  attention,  and  excite  a  fpirit  of  aiSli- 
^*  vity,  to  make  refiedlions  and  obfervations  on  the  vari- 
*'  ous  parts  of  hufbandry.  By  placing  a  confidence  in 
^'  them^  you  will  gain  theirs  ;  and  they  wijl  fall  infen- 
''^  fibly  into  your  opinion,  when  once  they  are  perfuaded 
*'  that  it  is  net  from  author ity,  but  convi(rrion5  that 
^'  you  wifti  them  to  purfue  new  tracks. — You  fre- 
*'  quently  reafcn  upon  what  concerns  our  profeflion  : 
^'  will  you  permit  rae^  gentlemen,  to  bring  fbme  of  my 
*'  brethren  to  reafon  in  their  turn  before  you  upon  fub- 
*'  je^ls  with  which  they  likewiie  are  acquainted.  The 
f  farmer  imagines  thai  he  is  better  informed  than  your- 
*^  felves,in  matters  v;hich  concern  him  ;  and  you  mufi:  be 
''•' careful  not  to  oppoie  this  opinion.  You  (liould  rather 
^'  flatter  him  ;  and  leave  him  to  fuppofe  that  you  have  a 
^'  high  idea  of  his  capacity,  if  you  mean  to  excite  his 
*'  emulation  and  incline  him  to  feck  inflrn<Slion." 

Perceiving  us  pleafed  v/ith  his  difcourfe,  he  advifed 
us  to  choofe  fome  fubje<^t  proper  for  the  invefligation  of 
peafants,  and  then  to  requcfl  their  thoughts  upon  it. — 
He  recommended,  as  a  firil  effay,  the  quellion  con- 
cerning dry  fences  for  inclojures^  which  he  apprehends 
to  be  carried  to  a  hurtful  excefs  \n  our  cantons  ;  conceiv- 
ing  many  of  them  not  only  ufeliefs,  but  injurious  to  the 
fertility  of  land  ;  and  that  the  dead  fences  with  pali- 
Tadcs  rob  the  forefls  of  a  great  deal  of  wood,  and  the  la- 
borer of  a  great  deal  of  time  which  might  be  more  pro- 
fitably employed. 

The  Society  could  not  but  applaud  this  propofltion 
of  orv  philofopherc  — But   fome   amongfl  Ihem  had  too 

inditfercnt 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES,  8^ 

jndifFf* rent  an  opinion  of  the  unpolifhed  manners  gind 
■u.'iclcrilanding  of  countrymen,  to  cx()e(fl  any  thir?g  from 
fuch  a  cop.fc-rence  hefsdes  cofifufion  and  diiorder.  It 
appealed  to  them  that  the  modell  part  of  the  peasants 
would  be  too  timid,  to  ventnre  to  eKprefs  their  fenii- 
mcnts  with  treedam  in  a  public  affembiy  ;  whilft  the 
bold  would  fall  into  rude  and  noily  diiputes,  cfFording; 
neither  iiiforn  afion  nor  advantage  ;  and  they  thought 
that  every  pcaiant  was  ;7^cefraiily  included  in  one  or 
other  of  theie  characters. 

This  way  of  thinking  led  to  a  refolution  of  requeil- 
ing  the  farmers  to  fend  us  their  fentiments  in  writing 
upon  particular  queftions  in  agriculture  ;  and  to  excite 
their  emulation  by  prizes.  We  ag  eed  that  thele  quef- 
tions (hould  be  regularly  circulated  tv.'ice  a  year,  com- 
mencing with  that  recommended  by  KViyogg  concerning 
fences  or  inclolurei .     It  was  flated  in  this  manner. 

Qiiery  i.  In  what  cafes  are  fences  neceffary  I  and  in 
what  circumftances  may  ihey  be  omitted  as  fuperfiuous 
or  detrimental  ? 

2.  Where  fences  are  agreed  to  be  detrimental,  by 
what  method,  more  eligible,  can  land  be  protect- 
ed ? 

g,  W^Lere  fences  are  judged  necefiary,  in  what  man- 
ner may  they  be  rendered  the  mod  ufeful.  according  to 
diiferent  circumftances  ;  or  at  leaU  be  attended  with  the 
fewefl  ill  coniequenccs  \ 

We  received,  before  the  time  limited,  fixteen  differ- 
ent memorials  :  the  lolidity,  perfpicuity,  and  regularity 
of  the  arguments,  railed  our  utmoft  ailoniQiment, 

Kliyogg  only  was  not  thoroughly  fatisfied.  ''  This 
^'  appears  excellent  to  thofe  who  underfland  good  wri- 
"  ting,  fays  he  ;  but  it  often  happens  that  our  bcfl  huf- 
^'  bandmen  are  leaJl  ikilful  in  flile." — Our  philofopher 
himfelf  indeed  is  a  flrong  proof  of  this.  He  returned 
therefore  feverd  ti:nes  to  the  chargef'=--and  at  length 

prevailed. 


U  THE   RURAL  SOCRAT'ES. 

prcvsllled  with  the  Society  to  confent  to  a  perfond  con- 
jWence  wiiJi  ajclcdi  number  ufpeafa?its. 

They  gave  Kliyoggan  invkarioii  in  form  for  fach  as 
he  pointed  out  ;  and  many  of  our  tnenTybers  undertook 
to  invite, on  their  part,  the  rnoft  ienfi hie  farmers  of  their 
acquaintance. --The  15th  of  March  1763,  was  the  day 
appointed  5  aud  fifteen  pcafants,  from  different  diflriiSts 
of  the  carton  of  Zuj-ich,   appeared  in  the  alTembly. 

The  t^reafurer,  Mr.  Heidegger,  a  wife  mag'ilrate, 
zealous  in  promoting  every  thing  that  tends  to  the  good 
of  his  country,'  opened  the  coufereace  by  a  difcourf^ 
truly  pathetic. 

He  exhorted  the  peafants  to  anfwcr  with  manly  frank- 
BcB  and  ingenuDufnefs,  the  queflions  to  be  propoled  to 
them  ;  and  corsfined  his  enquiries  principally  to  the  three 
queflions  before  dated. 

An  unexpe«^ed  affair  requiring  the  attendance  of  the 
treafurer,  I  was  appointed /ij/j"  deputy. 

My  aftonifliment  aud  that  of  the  Society  in  general 
(reveral  of  whom  fl^cohdcd  me  with  pleafure)  was  ex* 
treme,  when  we  heard  the  P^reater  part  of  the  peafants, 
each  in  his  turn,  deP:ribc,  with  order  and  preci- 
sion, the  courfe  of  hufbandry  in  his  paii:  of  the  canton  ; 
compute  the  advantages  and  the  defevfls  ;  and  propofe 
the  methods  he  thought  mofl  likely  to  rectify  the  latter. 
Hot  onetranTgrefTed  the  bounds  of  decency  prcfcribed  : 
they  fpoke  ahernately,  without  interruptnig  each  other; 
and  without  the  leafi:  fymptom  of  animoGty  or  confufion. 
When  their  opinions  were  divided,  they  objedled  with 
rnodefly,  and  fupported  them  by  initances  drawn  from 
their  own  experience.  If  any  of  them  departe.d  from 
bis  fubje<n:,  the  red  loon  brought  him  back  by  a  clofe 
Gueftion  relative  to  the  point  they  wvere  difculllng. 

I  0iall  not  fay  any  tlhng  of  tiic  refult  of  this  confer- 
ence, as  the  Society  has  given  the  public  an  abllra(5l  of 
three  prize  memorials  on  the  queftion  concerning  X\\q 

T^l-c  of  incl'^^Vr*^'  •  ?'»']  i'lvrMids    publiOiigo;   an  abridge- 

Kienv 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  % 

mentof  aii  which  was  colledled  at  this  interefling  con- 
ference, proper  td  icrve  for  inftrucTlion  to  other  hul^ 
bandmen. — I  (hall  content  myfelf  with  declaring  that  wc 
were  fingularly  edified^  as  much  by  the  decent  beha- 
viour of  thefe  honed  people,  as  by  their  intelligence  and 
zeal  for  the  public  good.  It-  is  amazing  with  what  fa- 
cility,'clearnefs,  and  energy  ihcyexprefTed  their  con- 
ceptions, when  we  confider  how  very  rarely  we  meet 
with  the  like  in  men  Vv^hofe  genius  has  been  cultivated 
from  their  cradle  !— Upon  the  whole,  I  may  venture  to 
aflert,  that  this  conference  did  honor  to  human  nature  ; 
and  has  indifputahly  convinced  nSj  that  a  good  unckr- 
(landing  and  an  upright  heart  ai  e  not  excluded  from 
any  condition  of  life  ;  and  that  true  dignity  is  no  more 
foreign  to  fimplc  villagers,  than  to  the  mOfl  elevated 
raliko. 

With  a  heart  affcifted  with  what  I  h^id  feen  and 
heard,  I  could  not  forbear  exprcliing  to  the  afTembiy  the 
feelings  with  which  1  was  agitated. — '-^  I  have  never  ifi 
*•  my  life  experienced  (faid  I)  a  fatisfaclion  equal  to 
"^what  I  am  fenfible  of  at  this  agreeable  moment  ;  when 
"  I  behoKd  men  of  worth  in  the  city  and  the  coontiy 
'^  unite  their  common  endeavors  for  the  public  bene- 
^  iit !  And  you  my  friends  from  the  country  mu(l  now 
''•  be  convinced  that  all  our  views  center  in  the  difcov- 
'•  ery  offuch  methods  as  may  tend  to  augment  the  prof- 
"  perity  of  our  republic,  by  giving  frefh  vigor  to  the 
^'  indnflry  and  adlivity  of  our  laborers^  and  endeavorino- 
**  to  inflruft  them  irs  the  niofl;  c?ri  lain  rules  for  culti- 
*'  vating  and  i^n proving  the  fertility  of  the  foil.  Ta 
^^  procure  intslhgence,  we  read  differtations  from  ?M 
*^  parts  of  the  globe,  cempofed  by  men  of  talents  and 
"  likely  to  inflrui^l  us  by  their  experience,  Thofe 
^'^  of  us  whofe  fituation  v/ill  allow  it,  in  order  to  be  more 
*•  fure,  confirm  this  by  irials  of  their  own.  I  fee,  my 
'''  good  friends,  you  are  animated  with  the  fame  zeaJ» 
*'  and  I  expe<Si:  the  moft  happy  cffc£ls  will  attend  your 
^^  country  from,   ir  ;  for,    in    realitVj  it  is  cii  you  tha': 


88 


THE   RURAL  SOCR.ATES. 


the  fuccefs  of  all  our  enquiries  depends.  All  our 
{peculations  will  be  tVuilleis,  if  you  are  dilatory  in 
performing  your  part  ;  and  if,  convinced  as  you  are  of 
the  integrity  of  our  intentions,  you  delay  to  execute  the 
plans  we  recommend.  It  depends  on  your  endeavors 
to  render  this  a  happy  and  fiouriihrng  country.  Your 
virtues,  your  candor,  are  lure  guarantees  of  your 
acquielcence  :  you  will  then  ha\e  a  jufl  right  to  the 
glorious  title  of  benefactors  to  your  country  :  you 
will  chea  demonflrate  that  the  occupation  ot  a  huf- 
bandman,  is,  in  its  confequences,  the  mod:  important 
and  honorable  of  all  that  are  exerciled  in  civil  locic- 
ty  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time,  the  mod  agreeable  and 
fatisfa(Story  to  fulfil.  What  can  be  more  .pleafing 
than  a  perpetual  contemplation  of  the  woiks  of  the 
Creator  ;  breathing  a  pure  and  fiee  air;  confirming 
the  health  of  the  body  by  exertife  and  labcr  ;  and  be- 
holding a  happy  fertility,  the  reward  of  care  and  dil- 
igence ?  What  employment  can  be  more  eafy  to  ful- 
fil than  tlut,  where  the  greater  past  of  the  lucccis  de- 
pends on  a  man'^s  own  condudl  ?  How  much  moie 
unfortunate  in  this  refpev5l  aie  we,  who  fpend  much 
time  and  care  before  we  can  rer^der  our  ideas  accept- 
able to  others  I  And  what  a  number  of  efforts  miif^ 
be  made,  and  obihules  be  furmounlcd,  before  we 
can  introduce  thern  into  prad^ice,  or  reap  the  leaft  ad- 
vantage from  our  esei  rions  : — Continue  then,  my 
friends,  to  fecond  us  with  all  your  might  ;  give  us 
your  conficleiice  and  friendQup.  You  (hall  fee  us,  in 
our  turn,  do  every  thing  in  our  p6wer  to  convince  yoti 
of  our  ftncere  regard  ;  and  to  render  of  general  u(e 
the  maxims  we  have  learned  from  books,  from  expe- 
riments, and  from  your  converfation.  May  this 
nni4>n  of  interefts  procure  ojr  country  all  thofe  blef- 
fmgs  which  there  is  reafon  tocxpedl  from  it." — I  had 
the  fatisfadlion  m  finiihing  my  difcourfe,  to  ohferve  fomc 
emotions  in  the  countenai^.ce  of  my  auditors^  cxprcllivc 
of  their  approbation. 

The 


■THE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  2^' 

The  Society,  as  a  teflimony  of  regard  and  good  will 
to  their  gneds,  had  provided  a  dinner  ;  where  there 
was  fo  general  an  appearance  of  cordiality  and  kind-, 
ncfs,  that  the  conclufion  of  the  day  was  not  leis  atieft- 
if}g  to  a  v/eil-v/i{her  to  mankind,  than  the  beginning. 


THE  Philofophical  Society  having  difcovcrcd,  that 
Z^/^iy-'"  written  by  pcrfons/zc?.^  engaged  in  practical  agricul- 
ture, had  little  comparative  weight  with  the  peaiantry  ; 
propofed  (as  has  been  related)  ^4nnual  prize  quejliom^ 
to  which  the  pta(ants  replied  in  writing.*  At  the 
end  of  tlieyear,  the  information  contained  in  the  papers 
of  the  peaiants  was  extraded  ;  and  recommended 
with  the  more  confidence  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try, as  it  had  been  fuggefiied  by  fome  of  their  com- 
rades. 

The  firfi  objecl  propofed  for  difcufilon  regarded  the 
care  oi  forejls.  The  increaflng  confumption  of  wood 
from  the  progrefs  of  luxury  and  manufadlures  and  from 
an  augmented  population,  joined  to  the  decreafe  of  the 
forefbs,  made  this  a  neceifary  fubjeift  of  attention  ;  and 
yet  it  had  wholly  been  neglected  by  the  peafantry,  who 
even  thought  it  ridiculous  in  any  cafe  to  plant  wood. 
The  prize  queflions  v/hich  were  iirit  propofed  in  1763, 
and  continued  in  1764,  refpected  the  fowing5the  care, the 

cutting, 


*In  the  fecond  volume  of  the  French  eJiiion  of  the  Ksral  ^sc^ate;^  % 
letter  is  inferted  dated  24  Sept.  1774  ;  and  written  by  Dr.  Hirzel,  to  the 
Baron  de  Tchoudi,  an  officc-r  in  the  Krcnch  fervlce,  and  author  of  an  Ef- 
{zyoT\ReJinom  and  cone  hearing  trees  and  of  of  her  perfor.>.ance3.  It  chief!  5? 
legards  the  improvemcns?  in  rhc  canton  of  Zurich  which  fefohed  fron? 
the  hiot  furnifiied  by  the  conference  between  the  Philofophical  Society  of 
Zurich  and  certain  peafants  of  the  canton  ;  a  conference,  as  we  have  feen, 
iirft  propofed  by  Kiiyogg. — From  this  letter,  the  following  part  of  the 
above  fedion  of  this  work  isextrn<^^ed  and  tianflated. 

Mr.  Young's  tranfiator  from  this  period  of  our  work  will  no  isore  be 
^card  of;  except  in  our  Appendix,     E, 
IVI 


9!^:  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

cutting,  and  the  employment  of  wood.  The  anfwerS 
ftftoniflied  the  propolers;  and  proved  the  important  truth^ 
;^hat  found  rcalbn  well  directed  can  never  mifs  the  truth. 
Profeflor  Ulleri,  digefled  the  whole  into  a  body  of  in- 
ilruftions,  which  uere  approved  even  among  the  Ger- 
mans, with  whom  the  art  of  the  Forefier  has  approach- 
ed the  moil  towards  perfeftion.  Among  thefe  papers, 
the  bcfl  was  the  work  of  a  cooper  ;  whoie  bufinels  often 
led  him  into  the  woods.  It  was  fo  well  drawn  up,  that 
it  needed  no  alteration  to  fit  it  for  the  prels  ;  and  the 
author  of  it  in  confeqiiente,  was  made  the  diiedlor  of  a 
confiderable  wood.  At  the  fame  time,  commiflioners 
were  appointed  to  take  care  of  the  foreils  — The  prin- 
ciples upon  this  fubjed  thus  becomipg  more  generally 
known,  the  Society  was  encouraged  to  proceed  far- 
ther. 

It  was  now  determined  to  difcnfs  every  branch  of  ru- 
ral economy,  in  order  to  arrive  at  a  fyflematic  fet  of 
infl:ra£lions  for  the  country  ; — and  the  next  topic  pro- 
pofed,  regarded  the  means,  of  preparing,  afTcmbling  and 
multiplytng  maiiures^  compoils,  t&c. 

This  was  the  more  natural,  as  the  pcafantry  ^xrc 
already  convinced  of  the  necelfity  of  attention  on  this 
head,  according  to  the  maxim  prevailing  among  them, 
that  7nanure  is  better  than  contrivance  ;  {_M[ft  ijl  v.her 
lift  ;  mieux  vaut  fum'er  qne  finefTe  \\  and  much  had 
been  done  on  this  fabjccl,  eipecially  for  the  increafe  of 
liqoid  manure  [mare.] — It  was  alfo  neccfTary  to  attack 
the  cuilom  of  turning  out  beafls  into  fallows,  as  alfo 
into  flubble,  after  harvefl  ;  a  fort  of  commonage 
called /-/re*//  de  parcours  ;  which  diminifhed  the  quan* 
tity  of  dung  in  the  feafon  of  the  year,  when  it  was  bell 
in  quantity  and  kind,  and  when  the  fermentation  was 
luoft  favored  by  the  heat  of  the  feafon  ;  and  injured  a l-^ 
fo  the  turn  for  improvement,  by  checking  the  cultiva- 
tor in  the  free  difpofition  of  his  land. — This  )  ew  expe- 
riment was  equally  liiccefsful  with  the  former  ;  many 
fyflematic  thinkers  were  found  among  the  pcafantry. 


THE  RURAL  SQCRATES.  9 1 

ai>d  tiic  fpecies  -  of  commonage  above-mentioned  was 
finally  abolifhcd. 

The  following  year  the  fubjedi:  of  the  Society^s  prize 
was  the  employment  of  the  manure  of  the  far  jn- yard  ; 
for  as  it  was  eilablilhed  in  the  difcuflions  of  the  preced- 
ing year,  that  there  were  diffeient  fpecies  of  manure, 
the  examination  now  was,  how  bell  to  «pp1y  each,  of 
them  ;  both  as  to  the  objed  of  cuhure,  and  the  fpecies 
of  ibil.  More  inform atioo  was  obtained  on  this  head 
than  was  ei;peded  ;  and  the  memoir  of  Captain  Tog- 
guenburguer  of  Martelen,  an  experienced  and  intelli* 
gent  cultivator,  was  printed  without  any  change  being 
made  in  it. — In  the  reiult,  the  peafantry  received  here 
again  much  inflrudtion.  It  v/as  even  found  profitable 
to  manure  lefs  laud,  provided  it  v/as  done  upon  a  better 
fyflem  ;for  the  manure  ought  to  be  fo  laid,  as  to  increale 
tlie  future  means  of  manuring,  by  augmenting  the 
quantity  both  of  forage  for  cattle  and  of  itrav/. 

Thefe  fucceffes  led  to  another  object  ftill  more  diffi- 
cult and  almod  unknown  in  the  country  ;  namely,  the 
rmxiure  of  differ  era  earths^  and  the  decifion  of  the  ^<?- 
cieT  of  culture  called  for  by  each  foil. — it  is  true  that  in 
a  little  diflri^l  of  the  canton  named  Lagerberg,  they 
had  known  from  time  immemorial,  the  ufe  of  a  marley 
'potters-clay  S^glctije  marreuje^  for  im.proving  clover,  to 
the  great  benefit  of  their  cattle.  Gravel  alfo  had  been 
applied  to  clay;  though  it  v/as  pretended  that  this  was 
to  enrich  the  fathers  at  the  expence  of  the  children. 
In  \.\i^v'meyards  alfo  on  the  ildes  of  the  hills,  the  culti- 
vator when  replacing  the  earth  lofl  by  wafiiings  from, 
the  rain,  incidentally  found  benefit  from  the  new  earth 
which  he  brought  to  his  old  foil.— But  ftill  the  fubje<St 
was  imperfectly  handled  and  parfued  ;  and  foils  were 
not  yet  known  by  their  oppofitions  to  each  other ;  though 
hence  was  to  be  drawn  the  grand  rule  for  their  being 
mixed. 

The  Society  had  next  to  inquire  into  the  ftate  of  the 
..;:plemc?2fs  o{  agriculture  u fed  by  the  peafantry ;   and 

here 


92  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

hers  sgain  its  hopes  were  equally  gratified  by  the  iiffue, 
A  man  was  difcovercd  who  could  prepare  wood  fop 
|)loughs,  which  united  duvability  with  iightnefs,  and 
permitted  the  plougliing  of  heavy  lands  with  light  ma- 
chinery. TheSociety  had  alfo  the  opportunity  of  inform- 
ing the  peafantry^  when  they  fhould  cultivate  with  the 
plough,  when  with  the  fpade,  the  pick-axe,  or  the  hoe 
with  two  branches. 

In  the  two  lail  years,  the  notice  of  the  cultivators 
was  UWutdtoXhtwatering  and  draining  of  lands  ;  two 
branches,  in  which  the  canton  of  Berne  v.'as  far  more 
advanced  than  that  of  Zurich.  The  abflrad  of  what 
was  written  on  tliis  iubje<Sl  is  to  be  fdsn  in  the  paper  of 
in[lru6iions  drawn  up  by  jMr.  Brunner^  fecretary  tot;».- 
commifFion. 

Thefe  inflrudlions  ^xcYcfe?if  at  the  expence  oftheSoci" 
civ  to  all  the  pari/kes  in  the  canton;  and  the  clerpj  were 
tiefired  to  promote  attention  to  them  ;  and  in  particular, 
to  get  them  placed  in  every  jchool-room^  that  young 
perfons  might  acquire  right  ideas  as  early  as  pojjible. — 
Every  day  plcafing  proofs  offered  of  the  falutary  fpirit 
which  was  excited  by  this  means  among  cultivators. 

Rut  the  lecond  plan  for  drawing  the  attention  of  th:^ 
cultivators  to  what  concerned  them,  was  ftill  purliied  \ 
namely,  that  of  the  folen^n  conferences  which  have 
been  above  defcribed.  Care  however  was  taken  to 
make  the  fubjed:  of  them  diifer  from  that  of  the  annual 
prize  quedions.-  If  the  conference  in  this  cale  had  pre- 
leded  the  prize  queflion,  the  peafant  would  have  been 
anticipated  in  his  own  inquiries,  and  the  obje*^  of  ex- 
citing his  own  meditations  miglit  have  been  frufliated  ; 
nnd  if  it  \\zA  jolloroedx\\t  difcnliion  of  the  prize  queflion, 
mortification  and  other  incorvmlrnccs  v^ciild  have  oc- 
cnrred  to  manv  of  them. 
^    ■  '  It 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  '    93 

it  was  farther  perceived,  that  the  views  of  promot- 
ing the  agricuUure  of  the  canton  of  Zurich  could  not 
•be  fully  attained  without  an  exav.1:  knowledge  of  the 
adual  circumdances  of  the  country,  as  regarding  rural 
economy.  Yy\ ,  Hirze!  therefore  prefented  to  the  Socie- 
ty in  1761  a  plan  q\' t  ihlcs  for  each  village.  Different 
columns  were  appropriated  to  the  regiflcr  of  the  hou- 
fes,  hearths,  families,  ni'jrried  men,  widowers,  unmar- 
ried males  (whether  above  or  below  the  age  of  puber- 
ty,) abfent  men,  and  fervants  ;  ali^-^  of  the  married  wo- 
men, widows,  unmarried  females,  (whetlier  marri^^e- 
ble  or  otherwile,)  abfent  women,  and  female  lervants  ; 
and  lad  of  ail  the  lum  total  of  the  perlons  compofing  the 
family,  with  the  profe'ffion  or  trade  followed  by  each 
family.  Another  column  exhibited  the  profeflior;  or 
Ipccies  of  manufaiflures  w^hich  the  family  purfued.  Five 
other  columns  were  provided  for  arranging  the  land 
tinder  one  of  the  ^wc  kinds  of  landed  property  ;  name- 
ly meadows,  fields  for  grain,  vineyards,  paftures,  and 
woods. — Afterw^ards  came  twelve  columns  for  noticing 
refpedively  the  number  of  oxen,  cows,  and  young  cat- 
tle ;  hories,  mares,  and  colts  ;  hogs,  fheep,  and  goats  ; 
geele,  fowls,  and  pigeons  ;  and  laftly  another  for  bee-< 
hives. — Heiice  an  idea  was  obtained  of  the  population, 
the  diiicreut  properties,  and  the  different  means  of  lub- 
fidence  of  the  different  villages. — Above  each  column 
a  memorandum  was  placed,  inviting  information  in 
writing  concerning  the  quality  of  the  houfcs  and  land, 
their  value  or  produce  ;  as  alfo  concerning  the  Ip rings 
rivers,  atid  canals  ;  and  likewile  refpectiug  the  precau- 
tions taken  with  refpe^l  to  fire  and  other  objects  of  po- 
lice. -An  extrad:  of  the  marriages,  births,  and  deatli v 
from  old  rcgiflers  being  added,  a  comparifon  was  made 
eafy  with  thofe  of  tlieprefent  time. —  Ey  thefe  means  the 
Society  has  fmce  obtained  accurate  intciligencc  relpt^6l- 
ing  the  country.  Wherever  there  were  difficulties 
attending  this  intelligence  the  peafantrv  v/cre  called 
upon  to  explain  then:j% 

ConfC'rcpcc; 


94  THE  RUPlAL  SOCRATESc 

Conferences  were  alfo  held  with  fotne  of  the  cmii' 
vators,  on  the  fubjccl  of  the  advantages  and  defe^^s  of 
the  rural  ccouoaiy  in  their  fevcrai  neighborhoods* 
Thefe  conferences  were  attended  by  fomc  of  tlie  chiefs 
cf  the  government,  by  many  clergy,  military  perfons, 
iiterary  men,  merciiants,  a!]d  arriians.  At  every  new 
conference,  the  aiiiilants  were  more  numerous  than  at 
^he  preceding  ones  ;  and  the  pealants  were  always 
Satisfied  and  lent  away  in  loinc  reipecr  or  other  iiii- 
jproved. 

'  By  thefe  different  mcsns,  the  pea  Hints  became  mor<? 
and  more  proud  of  their  profcilion,  and  more  and  more 
?.ttentive  to  its  principles.  Whole  communities  joined 
i^ogethcr  to  gGt  rid  of  the  droll  de  parcours  (or  particu- 
lar right  of  commonage  above  noticed.)  Others  agreed 
to  divide  tlieir  common  pailures  in  n^ardiy  places,  con- 
verting ihem  into  meadows,  or  plantations  of  willow 
f  which  fays  the  French  editor  are  fomctimes  as  profita- 
ble as  the  bcH:  meadows,  in  countries  where  flraw  is 
fcarce.] — Others  again  advanced  in  the  care  of  their 
zvGods  ;  in  working  np  their  turf  ;  or  in  difcovcring 
?}2arle  pits^  or  other  matter  proper  for  dreffing  the  land. 

EcQ7iomical  OT  \AoriciiUurai  SoQicfxes  were  formed  in 
many  places  ;  and  m.any  talents  called  to  }ight,  which 
hrive  been  dirc£led  to  objecls  highly  important. 

Premiums  have  been  inpcraddcd  in  favor  of  thofe 
\v\\o  have  found  out  metliods  for  employing  the  poor^ 
to  the  advantage  of  the  individual  and  of  the  c.ommuni- 
ty  ;  as  by  improving  the  common  paflures,  keeping 
in  order  the  common  woods,  preventing  the  ravages 
of  torrents,  and  making  roads,  &c. 

Many  humane  perfons  have  alfo  joined  in  fubfcrip- 
tions  for  aiiifting  inch  poor  laborers  as  wanted  capital^ 
which  was  to  be  diiliibuted  by  a  committee  of  the  Soci- 
cty  ;  ^nd  the  bailiifs  [or  chiefs]  of  the  villages  and 
r,l^  curates-were  invited  to  give  advice  as  to  the  diflri- 
bution. — Two  pieces  of  land,  which  together  did  not 
eoritain  i3,ogo  v^'iarc  feet  (or  not  a  fquare  of  45*  yards) 

and 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  95 

snd  which  were  deemed  entirely  barren,  liave  been 
fertilized  by  help  of  this  fort  without  the  aid  of  any 
cattle,  lb  as  to  fupport  a  whole  fafniiy  ;  and  with  the 
help  of  a  little  work  at  a  maniifaiSture,  fomething  w^as 
even  faved.  Other  inflances  occurred  of  iervices 
equally  confiderable  ard"  interefling. 

"I'he  Society  alio  had  recourfc  to  a  new  i^icthod  of 
advancing  cipriculiure,  A  pcafant  who  with  great  alFi- 
duity  had  cultivated  a  fliVall  property  upon  the  old  fyf- 
teni,  was  engaged  to  work  it  under  tlie  circ:i5lions  of 
the  Society  upon  the  new  fyilem'.  He  was  ordered 
therefore  to  keep  his  cattle  conflantly  in  the  flabie,, 
and  put  their  manure  on  his  wheat  land  aiid  meadows  y 
giving  to  his  vines  earth  drawn  from  a  m^r (by  mea- 
dow and  afterwards  e^^pofed  to  the  infiuerce  of  the 
weather.  The  marfhy  fpot  of  meadow  was  itfelf  plant- 
ed with  willow  ;  whofe  produce  farther  fenfibly  aug- 
mented the  dung- heap.  The  pafture  vvas  converte(': 
into  fields,  of  which  a  third  part  w^as  put  into  clover  in 
fuccedion  for  the  fummcr  feed  of  the  cattle,  who  were 
fhut  out  even  from  the  w-ood.  In  the  noil  difl-anc 
field,  a  reier  voir  for  liquid  manure  was  placed;  intc^ 
which  v/atei*  was  led  from  a  neighboring  fpring.  Eighty 
beds  often  feet  fquare  each  which  were  ranged  in  a 
line  along  a  narrow  flip  of  land  v,ere  devoted  to  varied 
e?<periments  upon  grains  and. forage  of  different  kinds. -^ 
The  proprietor  who  had  before  kept  only  tw^o  head  of 
crattle,  in  the  fourth  year  was  enabled  to  keep  three  ; 
his  wheat  was  doubled  ;  his  whole  land  became  more 
fertile  and  w^as  more  eafiiy  worked  ;  and  his  vine^-^- 
bad  fuffered  no  detriment,  though  had  it  been  otherwifi: 
his  ether  advantages  would  h-a.ve  richly  compenfated 
for  it.  The  agricultural  experiments  in  the  mean  time 
gave  knowledge  to  the  canton  as  to' feveral  articles  of 
culture. 

A  few  years  flnce  the  Society  received  from  the  can- 
ton a  landed  property,  as  a  donation  lo  be  applied  to 
the  objecl  of  e:>perimcii!:s, 

A 


96  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

A  part  of  this  land  has  been  devoted  to  the  forma- 
tion of  a  botanical  garden^  in  which  every  year  are  feen 
200D  ditFerent  plants,  of  which  fome  arc  extremely 
rare  ;  and  this  garden  v^as  placed  under  the  care  of  Tii\ 
Locker, 

All  thcfe   dilFcrcnt   operations,  of  the  Philofophlcal 

Society,  let  it  be  repeated,  are  the  conlequence  of  its  fit^fl 
CQ7incciion  with  Kliyo^g*  Thus  the  virtues  of  private 
lUe  may  extend  their  influeiace  to  the  whole  of  human 
focietv  ;  jnft  as  nn  oak  by  its  aQorns  may  furround  it- 
Icli'  with  other  oaks,  which  ailing  in  like  manner,  the 
original  oak  becomes   attended    by  a  majefUc  foreil.''^ 

*  The  French  editor  in  a  notCj  informs  us  of  a  clergytnan  of  the  name 
of  Cciofnbel,  who  every  year  provided  dliterent  prizes  for  his  parifhion- 
rrs,  of  which  tlie  Agrtculiural  Sncieiy  of  Alencor  had  the  dillrihution. — ^ 
Ihi^  relates  olfo,  th:t  M.  de  la  Pt-rriere,  Jin  aiuient  tmiflceteer  of  the  King 
ofFrar-ce,  gave  afeftival  yearly;  to  whjcrt  thcfe  only  were  admitted,  wha 
had  c^iflinguilhe.i  thedifclves  by  their  exer(ions  and  fuccefs  in  zgriculture. 
Ag!  jcjltural  concerns  foraic  J  the  fuhj^ii^  of  a  conf^ji-ence  upr>n  this  occafion, 
and  tiiC  pre-eminence  tf  ihofe  who  had  done  rnnft  in  the  year  was  decsd- 
rd  by  a  tribunal.  The  ptrifli  of  Cepsde,  in  the  old  duchy  of  Aguiljon, 
n  {aid  by  this  means  lo  h:!ve  becooie  ihe  beft  culdvaied  of  any  iri  its 
neighborhood, 

Ir  is  affir-ned  in  a  French  puViication,  that  in  Alface  they  have  fuc- 
ceedcd  in  relfing  fo'-nc  of  the  fineft  vegetables  in  Europe  ;  owing  to  the 
magiiharcs  at  Strafburg  giving  a  fmall  gratification  to  thofc  bringing  ta 
market  the  fincft  bcefj  cjbb?ge,  &c. 

Gardr-nin^  iind  fruit  trees  fuinifii  fubje(51s  which  might  properly  fail 
within  (he  ol  j?rt9  of  a  le^urer  in  agriculture,  Premiunns  lilfo  may  fie 
<jiven  to  ihofe  making  known  new  fruits  and  ne^'  garden  vegetables, 
uith  the  variorjs  ufe?  rn  which  they  may  be  applied.  In  many  parts  of 
J;he  northern  worU,  vegetables  as  the  companioiis  of  animal  food  are  in 
rarioos  inftances  ff  very  modern  date.  The  advantages  of  the  roan- 
^ oult  (.nan's  gold)  of  the  Germans  and  Swifs,  an  agreeable  and  produc- 
cive  kind  of  bjct,  are  ftill  ut^heard  of  in  diffVrcnt  countries,  whtre  this 
fiant  wo.ilj  fucceed.  ■   E. 

THE 


THE 


RURAL  SOCRATES 


PART  THE  SECOND*. 


SECTION    i. 

Queries  r£fpedl?7g  ^I'^yogg^  ivith  ihdr  j^nfvjsr:"-: 


I 


AM  afked,  Jf  Kliyogg  is  mi  the  ohjed  of  ins 
maligrzant  jenloujy  of  his  neighbors  f  If  their  attacks  hav^ 
not  excited  in  him  anger  and  a  defire  of  revenge  I  And 
in  what  manner  he  governs  himfeif  in  this  cafe  ? 

It  is  not  to  be  doubted,  that  Kliyogg  is  orpofcd  to  the 

,   envy  and  malice  of  his  brethren.     He  has  merit,  and 

I  what  perfon  with  merit  is  free  from  this  ? — True  merit 

'  is  a  perpetual  fatire  on  thofe  who  are  defiitutc  of  it ;  and 

the  more  palpable  is  this  fatire,  the  lefs  eafily  it  is  fup- 

I  ported.     I  would  therefore  recommend  t6  every  friend 

\  of  mankind,  v^ho  travels  in  order  to  difcover  the  men 

of  merit  of  different  nations,  to  frequent  thofe   places 

where  the  idle  refort  in  order  to  fhew  their  talents  by 

Griticifing  their  countrymen  ;  and  if  afterv/ardshefeeks 

the 
N 

^  This  pirt  of  or?  completion  confiSg  of  materials  ftfunJ  in  the  J'rcnchi 
i|  and  not  in  the  Englidi  tranfiation. — It  is  roircellancoaj  in  its  oature. 

I':       i  Thefe  are  queries  from  Dr,  HiilQioff;,  Paftcr  et  An)ft«r<Jam,  to    "Bh 


98  THE   P.UP.AL  SOCRATES. 

the  acquaintance  of  thofe  who  have  been  mod  cenfiir- 
cd  there,  it  v/ill  be  fingular,  if  he  docs  i>ot  find  among 
///^fWperfons  the  mofl  remarkable  for  their  merit  and 
talents. 

The  neighbors  of  our  philofupher  feek  to  ridi<:ule 
hina  as  a  lingular  man,  who  always  endeavors  to  be  wi- 
fer  than  other  perfons. — One  exclaims,  that  iie  deflroys 
his  woods,  in  order  to  augment  his  manure  with  the 
ipoils  of  his  firs  and  pines.  Another  pretends,  that  he 
luins  Ills  poflerity,  by  ufing  a  mixture  of  different  foils ; 
or  by  exhauflinghis  arable  lands  and  depriving  them  of 
their  juices.  Others  wi(h  to  make  him  pafs  for  a  vain 
and  Vvorldly  man,  little  occupied  with  his  Creator,  and 
trufling  only  to  his  own  efforts  :  though  in  fa61  he  only 
regards  labor  as  the  furefl  means  of  obtaining  the  divine 
blefirng.  Others  again  make  liim  a  flatterer,  who  infi- 
nuates  himfelf  into  the  favor  of  men  in  place,  in  order 
to  dcprefs  his  neighbors  ;  though  the  only  ufe  which  he 
has  made  of  the  accefs  which  the  fublime  fimplicity  of 
his  cha'rai^ler  procures  him  among  the  moll  refpci^ted 
and  beft  intentioned  membersof  our  government,,  lies 
been,  to  acquaint  thciji  with  the  true  flate  of  what  hap- 
pens in  the  country,  and  to  lead  them  to  favor  the  in- 
duflrious  cultivator.  Others,  in  fhort^  laugh  at  all  of 
his  enlerprizes  v/hich  vary  from  the  common  courfe  ; 
and  leave  nothing  undone  which  envy  and  malice  can 
fuggeO:,  in  oider  to  diftrafl  or  injure  him.^ — He,  on  the 
other  hand,  always  tranquil  in  the  midCt  of  their  in- 
trigues,  proceeds  in  his  courfe  ;  and  oppofcs  nothing  to 
his  enemies  but  the  fruits  of  his  labors  ;  rich  harvclls  ;  , 
children,  who  are  well  brought  up,  and  on  whofc  coun- 
tenances are  to  be  obferved  .the  figns  of  an  interiial 
tranquillity  and  content,  and  whofe  obedience  and  alert- 
nefij  in  their  labors  every  day  increafcs  his  happinefs  5 
and  laftly,  the  diflingniflied  favor  of  our  governmen':. 

I  have  never  properly  difcovercd  him  in  anger :  mi>ch 
Icfs  have  I  remarked  in  him  the  fhiallcfl  difpcfition  t6 
rrientmcnt,     I  have  fcen   him'  i':;  the  difputc^  between 

ore' . 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  9^ 

K>ne  parifli  and  another  (where  great  vehemence  is  ufu- 
al)  employing  only  a  frauk,  fimple,  and  molt  accurate 
llatiemeiit  of  fails,  in  oppofilion  to  the  lieat  of  the  ad- 
verfe  party  ;  and  more  than  once,  I  have  obferved  him 
Seizing  with  a  kind  of  enthuiiafm,  the  means  of  procur- 
ing accefs  to  his  patrons  for  thofe,  who  envied  and  op- 
pofed  him  ;  feekir.g  to  regain  their  good  will  by  marks 
of  the  moft  unequivocal  frieuddiip  and  by  fcrv ices  the 
mofi:  important. — Such  proceedings  are  exceedingly 
rare  in  the  inhabitants  of  the  country.  I  notice  care- 
fully every  occurrence  which  can  make  me  acquainted 
with  this  clais  of  people  ;  and  1  am  every  day  more  and 
more  confirmed  in  the  pei  faafion,  that  genius  is  as  com- 
mon in  this  clafs,  as  in  any  other  whatfoevcr  ;  but  that 
generofity  and  difintercfLcdnefs  are  of  all  their  natural 
u^ualitiesj  thofe  v/hlch  develope  themfclves  the  leaft*  ; 

the 

*  The  French  tranfl^tor  cites  here  two  meixoraWe  excepiicns. 

One  isfaken  Uom  ilie  Marqnis  de  Miraheau,  who  gives  »he  folloviing 
Telation  in  the  Ef.hf;ieri(/es  du  Citojen  for  1769.  *•  The  farmers  and  vaf- 
*'  his  of  M.  de  Kergroadez  (io  the  diocefe  of  Leon,  in  France)  learring 
**  ihat  h,e  defigneu  to  fell  his  cftate,  affembled  and  deputed  to  him  (omt  ct 
*<  ti.elr  chiefs,  to  rf  queft  that  he  nuould  mt  f:ll  the-vi  to  any  in  the  admins 
•*  ijhatkn  of  the  faancfSy  and  ta  kno-jj  in  n.vhat  they  had  cffen.-fed  him.'* — 
My  friends,  faiJ  he  vviih  e^TiOtion,  the  ncafure  is  nefeff.iry  ^fom  the  de- 
fanged  ftate  of  my  affairs  ;  I  can  no  longer  live  in  my  ufual  i^yle  ;  and  I 
rnuli  fell,  that  I  may  at  lealr  leave  a  wreck  of  my  fortune  to  my  children. — 
Your  children,  replied  the  old  mer,  cannot  be  in  letter  hands  than  ours  ; 
but  33  we  know  thai  they  ought  not  to  owe  their  fuhfulence  10  us,  and  our 
only  wifh  is  to  reinPtaie  the  f.imsly,  con-.^efcenJ  to  Introll:  your  rfFaJfi  fo 
us.  What  iii  the  amount  of  your  debts,  for  ihey  belong  to  us  all  ?— Your 
kindnefs  penecr/itcs  trie,  lie  replied;  but  lowe  above  X.i2,oco  fieriing,  and 
1  muft  cf  neccffiiy  q-jit  you. — The  deputies  rc;ired  with  this  inrormaiion  ; 
thanking  hiaa,  and  pfOiTiifirg  him  a  fpeedy  anfwer.  In  effed,  ^ftcr  fomr 
lifT.e  ihey  returned  with  ihe  j^.12,000,  and  flgned  a  contra^  wiih  hia-,  of 
which  the  minute  ftill  fubfifls  ;  leaving  him  half  his  income  to  fupporc 
him  according  to  his  r^nk,  an.i  providing  fi>r  their  reiixburfement  in  for- 
ty years  ;  and  to  conclude  all,  they  prcfentcd  him  iviih  eight  catriage  hor- 
fes,  that,  in  their  own  phrafe,  his  lady  might  go  to  church  ,n  a  pro^tt  mari- 
ner, > 

The  fecond  anecdote  refpe^^a  the  generoGty  and  delicacy  cfanold  An- 
abaptiit  of  the  country  of  Walc'tc'^f  •  I'  ': '  ^"'°n  recited.  In  th?  year  1 76^, 

M.  ds 


tot)  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

the  p^afant  being  too  feldom  in  a  iituation  to  cxercifc 
them.  Limitted  generally  to  the  fingle  care  of  procur- 
ing bis  fubfiftenre,  he  fees  and  habitually  meets  in  oth- 
ers fcarcely  any  thing  befides  attempts,  in  one  fhape  or 
other,  to  deprive  him  gf  the  fruits  of  his  labor. — But  as 
to  Kliyogg,  we  know  how  capable  he  is  of  railing  him- 
4elf  above  his  fellows  ;  and  that  friendfliip,  conciefcen- 
fion,  and  forgivencfs  of  injuries,  are  each  as  natural  to 
him,  as  his  allonhhingadlivity  in  his  ruftic  labors  ;  and 
thefe  are  the  virtues  which  not  only  preferve  him  in  a 
conflant  ftate  oftranquillity  and  content,  which  nothing 
can  alter,  but  which  manifcri:  themfelvcs  in  the  divine 
character  of  his  countenance. 

1  have  lately  made  him  avifitin  company  with  Baron 
Rudbeck  and  the  learned  M.  de  Biornflal,  two  SwediHi 
travellers  of  merit,  whofe  obfcrving  eye  fuffers  nothing 
to  cfcape  them,  which  can  interefl  humanity.**"*.  We 
found  Kliyogg  jufl  returned  from  a  fatiguing  journey, 
having  that  moment  taken  his  fe^t  at  the  dinner- 
table.  He  rofe  immediately  to  receive  us  ;  and,  much 
as  he  Hood  in  need  of  reft  and  refrellunent,  it  was  in 
vain  that  we  ufcd  every  poflible  intreaty  to  oblige  hint 
to  linifh  his  repaft.  He  entertained  us  with  a  thoufand 
intcredip.g  things,  conducted  us  into  his  fields,  and  (hew- 
ed us  the  improvements  which  then  occupied  him.     At 

our 

M.  f^e  S£r.(?Ier,  aiJ  (le  camp  to  the  count  de  Stainville,  having  orders  to 
il-arcn  for  f»eldi  of  grain  where  the  horfes  of  his  general  rr,ight  forage  ; 
met  ao  Ar.abaptift,  vvhaia  be  enjoined  to  conduct  him  lo  fuch  fields. — The 
jgood  man  endeavored  to  cxcufe  himfelf,  with  a  degree  of  calmneG  equal- 
}v  removed  from  infrnence  and  from  fear  j  but  being  conHrained,  he  de- 
ilred  M  de  Stadlcr  to  follow  him.  They  had  proceeded  through  a  wood 
■A  confiderahle  way,  uhen  M.  de  Stadler  found  that  they  had  pafled  a 
Tuimber  of, fields  of  grain,  ot  vthich  the  Anabaptift  had  taken  rio  notic*. 
When  he  afked  the  reafon,  i!>c  old  man  ftill  advancing,  faid,  *'  the  othe^ 
*»  fields  do  not  belong  to  me,  bur  this  does ;  fend  therefore  mowers,  and 
•"*  tzW  mc  the  quantity  of  forage  yon  want." — The  French  iranflator,  adds, 
jrer;'efting  the  Anahaptifts,  that  a  petfon,  who  had  been  for  fifty  years  at 
tthe  head  of  ihc  magiftracy  of  Amfterdam,  affiired  hi:r»,  that  during  the 
vi-holc  of  that  time,  ^^  had  never  fcund  one  jerious  accufation  in  the  fii,hlic 
1  ,-ffij}(fi  cgairH  an  Anahtipiiji^ 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  loi 

i^ur  return,  he  gave  us  a  country  collation.  ?.nd  tl  was 
with  difficulty  that  we  prevented  him  from  re  conduiS^- 
ing  us  to  Zurich.  This  trait  will  fliew  you,  to  what  a 
point  cordiality  and  courtefy  have  become  ingrafted  in- 
to his  chara<Slcr. 

I  am  next  queflioned,  as  to  the  jnanner  in  ivhlck  Klh 
yogg  employs  his  Ivn^  evenings  in  vointer  f  Whether  he 
reads  ;  and  particularly  wlaether  lie  reads  the  bTble^- 
pialms,  and  catechifm  ?  whether  he  is  given  to  philolb- 
phical  meditations  \  whether  the  events,  manners,  and 
cufloms  of  mankind,  as  alfo  the  occupations  and  amufe- 
ments  of  other  cialTc^s  in  life  befides  his  ov/n,  interefi 
him  \ 

To  all  this  I  anfwer  plainly  and  ^im^^Xy  in  one  word. 
No.  The  philofophy  of  Kiiyogg  is  entirely  bcunded  to 
that  fphere,  in  which  providence  has  placed  him.  Def- 
tined  to  be  a  hufbandman,  he  thinks  that  his  only  voca- 
tion lies  in  cultivating  his  land,  in  fupporting  himlelf 
and  family  out  of  the  produce  of  his  labor,  and  in  mak- 
ing this  his  true  happinefs,  (which  is  no  other  than 
content.)  In  this,  all  the  faculties  of  his  mind  are  em- 
ployed. His  lands  arc  worked  upon  principles  derived 
from  his  experience  or  his  fagacity,  and  fom-ctimes  from 
tlie  inflructions  of  others.  The  ufe  which  he  makes  cf 
the  fruit  of  his  induflry  refls  upon  grounds  no  lefs  ju- 
dicious ;  bounding  itfelf  to  the  nourifnment  of  his  body, 
and  to  the  prefervation  and  (if  poifible)  the  increafe  of 
his  health  and  flrength.  Every  other  employment  of 
the  produce  of  his  fields,  vines,  and  cattle,  every  thing 
tending  to  delicacy  or  luxury,  excites  his'  indignation. 
\\\  the  abufes  of  the  good  things  of  this  life,  he  fees  the 
origin  of  poverty,  fraud,  and  every  vice.  Hence  his 
well-founded  complaints  againfl  drunken nefs  and  the 
diifolute  merriment  prevailing  on  feafl  days,  and  even 
during  the  week  ;  and  hence  above  ail,  the  fcrupnious 
attention  v.^hich  he  gives  to  the  education  of  his  chil- 
dren, and  his  anMiety  to  keen  them  out  of  the  way  of 


ia2  THE    RUilAL  SOCPtATES. 

■hcie  recreations,  though  commonly  regarded  as  innc 
cent. 

1  cannot  avoid  upon  this  occafion  relatirsg  an  anecdot; 
concerning  Kiiyogg  whicli  pafled  in  my  own  hoiire."^*"'% 
The  celebrated  M.  dc  Meckel  cf  Baik"^-,  having  ieatcd 
lumfelF  for  the  purpofe  cf  drawing  the  portrait  of  my 
country  friend,  Kliyogg  laughed  at  my  having  defired 
this,  and  lent  himfelf  to  it  purely  out  of  friendlhip.  *'  It 
*'  is  not  (laid  he)  that  it  co(h  me  njuch  to  fit  flill,  but 
'"'  I  do  not  fee  to  what  good  this  tends  :  if  you,  howev- 

'^r,  perceive  any,  I  confent  very  readily,  foi  you  know 
^'  that  I  do  not  underhand  thefe  matters/'  M.  Meckel 
':Quid  not  ceafe  to  admire  the  heavenly  fparks  of  fire, 
-vhich  came  from  his  eyes  3  a  llriking  (Ign  to  a  pliyfiog- 
nomiii,   of  force  of  underflanding,  philanthropy,   and 

nward  content. — But  in  the  midfl:  of  the  operation,  the 

haracterifiic  traits  of  the  countenance  fuddenly  difap- 
pear^d  ^  the  mufcles  v/cre  no  longer  rounded,  the  eyes 
^ccame  extinguifned,  and   the  face  offered  nothing  but 

vrinkles.  They  had  jufl:  given  the  melancholy  fignal 
for  the  approaching    execution  of  an   unfortunate  v;o- 

lajn,  who  had  dellroyf^d  the  unhappy  fruit  of  her  illicit 

;a(Iions.  "  Gracious  heaven,  faid  he,  to  what  purpofe  is 
^  It  to   behead  this  miferable   creature,  (who  it  feems 

"  was  from  riis  ncigliborhood)  ?  The  evil  ought  to 
"''  have  been  ftifiedin  its  origin  :   the  firif  errors   of  this 

•  girl  ihould  have  been  prevented,  when   (lie  was  fecn 

•  abandoning  hcrfelf  to  idicncfs,  frequenting  alehoufcs 

•  on  fcaft-days,  and  giving  her;telf  up  to  corrupting  di- 
'-  verfions.  '  It  is  then  that  authority  ought  to  have  in- 

'  tevfci'Ci]  a^d  ihevv^n  its  ieverity.  It  is  now  too  late  ;and 
'  the  cruel  fpet^lacie  which  is  a'bbut  to  take  place,  will 
"  be  without  elfedl,  af  /or/g  as  youth  are  permitted  to 
■  con/ider  the  firjl  ftcps  towards  vice  as  innocent  amale^ 
'  ments.^'-^^-^^,  'i'heie  imprclfsons  in  Kliyogg  are  the 
cfakof  his  never  having  quitted  the  circle  of  occupa- 

•  tion? 

'.ngrsretaaJ  prinr  f=l!er  at  B..fi*  Is  Sviiz^rland.- 


fHE  liuKkLr  SOCRATES.  103 

tions  wliich  concern  his  flntion  in  life  ;  and  liIs  being 
^ccuilomed  never  to  think  of  any  thing  of  which  lie 
ought  not  to  think,  nor  to  do  -any  thing  but  that  which 
it  was  his  duty  to  do,  at  the  moment. 

The  bible  then  is  the  only  book  which  he  reads,  and 
this  always  in  the  manner  which  I  have  formerly  men- 
tioned.— I  have  Tome  reafon  to  doubt  whether  he  ha?. 
even  read  my  publication  rcfpcfling  himfeif.  He  wai 
more  inclined  to  deride,  than  to  applaud,  the  pains  I 
had  taken  ;  of  which  he  could  not  perceive  the  ufe.. 
never  liaving  been  in  a  fituation  to  condder  the  infiu- 
ence  of  fcience  upon  the  happinefs  of  men. — One  of  liis 
brothers,  who  had  for  a  number  of  yeais  been  a  foldicr 
in  Holland,  was  very  fond  of  reading  ;  and  had  fornied 
a  tolerable  colledlion  of  books  in  geography  ;  as  alfo 
ofmyftical  works,  for  which  he  was  a  very  great  cn- 
thufiaft.  Having  pafTed  the  latter  years  of  his  life 
with  our  philofepher,  Kliyogg  Vvithout  the  help  of  eru- 
dition, had  made  him  perceive  the  abiurdity  of  the  doc- 
trines of-thefe  myflics. — But  tlie  children  of  Kliycgg 
fometimes  looked  into  the  books  of  their  uncle ;  in  which 
they  found  accounts  of  the  manners,  aits,  and  way  of 
living  of  different  nations,  v/hich  flattered  their  curioli- 
ty.  .Our  philofopl)er  found  that  they  fometimes  ifole 
away  from  their  work,  or  returned  to  it  hter  than  ufu-. 
rd  ;  in  fliort,  that  they  diretled  their  thoughts  to  diflant 
objects,  which  injured  their  atteiitionto  what  Vv'as  before 
tiiem.  This  reading,  therefore,  apj)carcd  to  him  as 
weeds  in  the  mind,  which  it  was  proper  to  root  out  :  he 
therefore  .made  liis  children  fenfable  of  it;  begged  cf 
his  brother  to  lock  up  his^pbifon  ;  and,  as  this  worthv 
veteran  died  foon  afrer  of  a  confumption,  fold  the  whole 
colled:ion  Vv'ithout  delay  at  a  lov/  price.  "  'i  his  ridicu- 
*'  Ions  trafii  (faid  he)  was  near  ipoiling  all  mv  children  : 
^'  the  pick  axe,  the  plough,  and  the  pitch  fork,  thei'e  are 
^'  the  books  wii^ch  they  ought  to  have  in  har.d." — Ws 
may  judge  froxii  this,  hew  dilUnt  Kliyogg  is  from  all  fort 
t^  f  c  r  u  d  k  i  on .  ^'  "^ '  ^■' » 

^^  The 


104  ^'HE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 


The  next  inquiry  refpe^Its  the  treatment  of  Kliyo^9  fa 
hit  children. —  I  am  afked  whether  chearfnlneis,  open- 
v.Q^s^  and  a  proper  degree  of  liberty  prevail  in  his  honi'- 
holci  ;  or  it  he  governs  his  family  by  fear,  and  with  tb© 
harfhnefs  and  leverity  common  to  a  perion  bred  in  the 
country  ;  and  whether  his  children  are  free  from  ambi- 
tion and  jealonfy  ? — I  anfvver,  that  harmonious  friend- 
iliip  and  an  amiable  gaiety,  vyithout  any  mixture  of  ref- 
traint,  reign  in  this  happy  famdy  ;  and  thole  vvho  enter 
Irito  it,  find  this  painted  in  the  contented  air  of  thnfe 
who  compofe  it. —  Things  indeed  cannot  be  otherwife 
with  the  mode  of  living  i  have  deicribed.  in  all  domef- 
tic  concerns,  every  one  of  this  fimily  has  liberty  to  give 
his  opinion  ;  and  the  bell  opinion  is  always  foihnved  ; 
for  all  areaccurtonied  to  feek  for  truth  without  prejudice 
or  partiality,  and  to  govern  thenifeives  by  good  fenfe. 
Kvery  one  may  iatisfy  his  appetite  ;  neither  vi^luais  nor 
money  as  1  have  mentioned,  beino  (but  up  ;  nor  docs 
any  thing  occur  to  excite  in  any  one  the  rmalleft  jea- 
loufy.  Kliyogg  loves,  and  treats,  and  conlults  them  all 
■eqiially,  under  all  circumilances  ;  and  has  no  greater 
pleafure,  than  that  of  feeing  them  contend  who  (halt 
fnggell;  v^hat  is  ht{i  for  the  profperity  of  the  family. 
An  have  been  kept,  with  equal  care  from  their  earlieft 
infancy;  ont  of  the  reach  of  the  dangerous  pleafures  of 
gaming  and  drinking  ;  havii-ig  never  approached  even 
the  places  where  they  prevail.  Onr  philofophcr  there- 
fore fees  bis  own  chara£ler  mnkiplied  in  each  of  tlis 
children. — His  principles  indeed  have  become  fo  habit- 
ual in  them,  that  no  temptation  of  fortune  can  engage 
:!iem  to  quit  his  roof.  His  eldeft  fon  might  have  mar- 
;  led  \QVY  advantageouily  ;  but  the  flipulation  of  living 
with  the  father-in-law  made  it  impollible  for  him  to 
accept  an  offer  ;  which,  without  this,  would  have  been 
::^  agreeable,  ?.5  it  was  a^lvantageons. 

Kliyogg  knows  fo  well  how  to  banilh  e^ry  fpecies  of 
jf  aUnify  from  his  houfl:\oId5  thst  his  fons  have  rec^eived 

lDt» 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  lo^ 

into  it    with     great     cordiality  the    hufband  of  their 
Mer  ;  who  has   not  only  lived  with    them  for  many 
years,  but  has  even  joined  his  mother  to  their  fociety.— 
This  man  had  been  fingularly  prepofieiTed  againft  Kli- 
yogg  ;  and,  when  the  latter  had  jull  cftablifhed  himfelf 
ri  the  farm  which  the  republic  had  confided  to  his  care^ 
he  came  to  fecehim  :   but  by  no  means  fo  much  with  a 
view  to  inflrndlhimrelf,  as  toform,inperron,  his  opinion 
of  this  fmgular  character  ;  of  whom  he  had  conceived  a 
very  difadvantageous  idea,  and  whom  he  wifhed  to  turn 
.-,  into  ridicule  by  means  of  fads  to  which  he  fhould  him- 
^'-^Ifbe  a  witnefs.     Having  folid  good  fenfe  however^ 
.  uth  and  worth  could  not  efcape  him  :  he  bluihed  a^ 
his  projed  ;   fav/  himfelf  obliged  to  refped  the  man  at 
whom  he   had  pretended  to  fcolF;  and  found   all  that 
'/as  fingular  in  him,   built  upon   folid  reafoning.     He 
became  attached  to  one  of  his  daughters  ;    demanded 
""ler  in  marriage  ;  and  obtained  her,  upon  condition  of 
ving  with  our  philofopher,   and  working  and  partak- 
ing in  every  thing  with  his  children,     Ac  firfl  indeed 
there  was  a  flight  difcontent  among  his  Tons  ;  but  their 
-father  reprefented  with  energy  the  happy  effeds    re- 
iliino-  from   a  reunion  of  their  labors,  with  the  conti- 
jed  increafe  of  profits  in  a  family  in  proportion  to  the 
creafe  of  its  a6live  members  !  while  divided  families 
and  properties  led  to  a  decline  of  every  thing  :    though 
'fie  concluded  his  remonftrances  with  leaving  full  lib- 
•  erty  to  thofe  who  were  diiTatisfied,  to  quit  him.     They 
have  fince  found  by  experience,  how  much  their  father 
was  in  the  right. 

His  fon  in  law  has  become  in  all  refpeas  a  feconci 
Kliyogg,  having  adopted  all  the  father's  principles,  and 
thinking  himfelf  in  confeqiience  the  bapplefl;  of  men. 
The  mother  is  equally  charmed  at  being  able  to  clofe 
her  career  in  the  midll  of  a  family-,  where  peace  and 
concord  reign  without  interruption  and  are  the  de- 
lightful recompenfe  of  honcft  labor  5  and  where  thf: 
beauty  of  the  133d  pfalm.  is  to  be  felt  in  all  its  extent. 
0  W^, 


lo6  THE  nURAL  SOCRATES', 

We  mufl  not  think  however,  that  the  children    ©f 

Kliyogg     are    wholly     without    recreation. When 

they    go  for  example   into  the  fields  in  harvefl  time, 
he  has  a  violin  to  precede  them.     On  the  Sunday  even- 
ing»  he  fits  among  them  to  fing  ;  and  though  nothing  i? 
allowed  to  be  fung  in  the  houfe  befides  the  pialms  of 
David,  it  is  eafily  perceivable  from  the  manner  in  which 
thefe  pfalms  are  executed,  that  Urongly  penetrated  with 
the  fame  fpirit  which  animated  the  royal  prophet,  they 
tade  in  this  pious  exercife  fuch  a  degree  of  fatisfadion, 
that  few  even  with  the  moft  refined  affiftance  of  art, 
are  able  to  experience  the  like.^**     It  is  here  that  we 
find  the  proof  how  eafy  it  is  for  man  to  be  happy,  if  he 
iceks  only  to  procure  true  center* t  in  the   fiilfilment  of 
his  duty;  inftead  of  running  after  the  phantoms  of  hap- 
pinefs  and  grandeur  which  he  never  ceafes  to  prelent 
to  himfelf. 

It  is  again  afl^ed,  if  Kliyogg  is  often  alone  in  Ku  fields  f 
'  tf  his  4ime  never  hangs  heavy  upon  him  ;  or  if  he  guards 
againfl  tlvrs  by  the  pleaiin-';  of  contemplation  ? 

Whenever  Kliyogg  goes  into  his  fields,  he  alivays 
finds  employment,  cither  in  labor,  or  in  examining  the 
condition  of  everything,  or  in  confidering  the  work  or 
improvement  which  is  required  ;  fo  that  his  time  is 
never  a  burthen  to  him.  Add  too,  that  notwithfland- 
ingthe  great  diftance  which  ieparates  his  own  property 
from  that  v^diich  he  farms,  he  often  goes  from  one  to 
the  other.  This  walk,  whicii  lafts  him  four  hours, 
ferves  as  a  recreation,  which  he  often  takes  after 
other  work  ;  and  it  docs  not  prevent  his  forwarding  the 
bufmefs  which  he  finds  offerinc:;  at  his  arrival.  During 
his  journey,  he  occupies  himfelf  with  reflexions  on  the 
profperity  of  his  houlhold,  and*  the  general  welfare  of 
the  inhr^bitar.ts  of  the  country  f  he  feels  the  value  of 
the  blelfings  with  which  Providence  has  deigned  to 
crown  his  labor?  ;  and  he  prays  that  others  may  obtaia 
^hc  fame.— He  confidcrs  rJf?  the  mnny  topics  fuggeft- 

ed 


THE   P.URAL  SOCRATES.  207 

id  by  the  properties  over  which  he  pafTes.  If  he  finds 
a  traveller,  he  enters  into  converfation  with  him  ; 
which,  as  he  never  goes  out  of  his  province,  always 
turns  upon  the  improvement  of  agriculture,  and  the 
benefit  to  arife  from  it  to  every  country  which  makes 
it  a  ferious  objecl. 

The  tendency  of  the  prefent  query  leads  me  to  con* 
jedlure,  that  it  is  conceived,  that  Kliyogg,  after  a  man- 
ner of  his  own,  gives  into  metap.hylical  refieiTtions  ;  or 
at  lead  into  general  obfervations  relative  to  natural 
philofophy. 

This  opinion  requires  corre^ion.  Kliyogg  is  Co  dcf- 
titute  of  what  is  called  fcience,  that  whenever  he  is 
•  queffcioned  upon  objcv^s  which  do  not  r€(pe<3:  his  pro- 
feflion,  or  the  civil  relations  in  w^hich  he  ilands  placed 
^s  a  member  of  fociety,  he  anfwers,  I  underfland  noth- 
ing of  thele  things.  But  in  return,  he  conceives  that 
all  thofe  v/ho  are  not  huibanduaen  by  profefTion,  can- 
not be  thoroughly  acquainted  v/ith  the  fubjecft  with 
which  he  himfelf  is  occupied  ;  fo  that  it  ofiens  happens 
in  the  heat  of  converfation,  that  he  fays,  ''  you  un- 
'^  derdand  nothing  of  this,  and  I  will  explain  it  to  you.'' 
— He  is  himfeif  then  an  example  how  little  wifdom  is 
dependent  upon  learning.  It  mufl  not  be expeftrd, there- 
fore, that  I  can  have  much  to  fay  re{j^e<n:ing  his  difcov- 
cries  v/ith  regard  to  religion,  either  natural  or  revealed- 

His  theology  is  very  brief ;  and  this  isthe  fum  of  it. — 
"  Fulfil  with  fidelity  and  affiduity  all  the  duties  ?.x\di  lar 
^^  bors  impoled  upon  you  by  your  profedion  in  lifco 
''  Do  always  what  your  confcience  directs  in  the  mo- 
''  ments  when  you  confult  it.  Look  for  no  other  blef^ 
*'  fing  from  Providence,  than  that  which  belongs  to  con- 
*•  fiderate  and  continual  exertions.  Beware  of  eating 
*'  any  bread  befidcs  that,  which  you  haVe  earned  v/ith 
^^  your  own  hands.  Act  towards  others  as  you  wifh 
^''  they  (hould  a6l  towards  you,  that  you  may  be  able  to 
;','  allure  yourfelf  that  youare  beloved  of  God,  and  maOo 

**  Gofitemplate 


2oB  IHE  ilUIlAL  ^OCIIATES. 

'^  Contcinplate  death  without  terror.*'*** — If  he  11 
aflced  whai  he  thinks  of  original  fin,  he  anfv/ers;  *^  Do 
*'  only  what  is  right,  and  be  tranquil  about  the  reft." — 
If  any  teli  him^  that  he  leflens  the  merits  of  our  Saviour 
by  fuppollng  that  he  can  deierve  heaven  by  his  good 
works,  he  anfwers  with  afojt  of  difpleafure  ;  '^  I  do  not; 
*•'  pretend  this  ;  for  we  mull  owe  this  to  oiir  Saviour, 
^'  which  I  confider  as  a  point  decided  ;•  but  our  Sa- 
*'  viour  himfelf  requires  tn  return^  that  I  fhould  ad 
*'  well  ;  this  is  my  duty,  and  he  has  known  how  to 
''  provide  for  the  reft. '^ — Such  aie  his  ideas  of  religion; 
of  which  he  is  more  anxious  to  fulfil  the  precepts,  than 
to  underlland  the  dodrines  ;  which  yet  he  admits  as 
<:ert2in,  never  having  conceived  the  ifmalleft  doubt  on 
this  head.' — The  infernal  tranquillity  which  religion  pro- 
cures  hlm^  when  he  feels  that  he  has  done  his  duty,  is  to 
him  the  ftrongeil  demonftration  of  its  truth. 

On  the  other  hand,  he  defpifes  .all  religion  which  re- 
fides  only  in  profeinons  arid  is  contradicted  by  actions. 
When  he  hears  much  talk  of  religion  and  the  ufes  of 
public  worfhip,  and  of  the  necelFity  and  efficacy  of  pray- 
er ;  coming  from  men  devoted  to  idlenefs,  pleafureand 
debauchery,  and  In  which  they  permit  alfo  their  chil- 
dren to  iiuiulge  5  or  from  men  who  feek  to  inrich 
themfclvcs  by  tricks  and  cheating  ;  he  calls  the  religion 
the  Ciiurch-going,  and  the  prayers  of  fuch  perfons,  a 
palpable  lie^t}<j  which  they  leek  to  abufe  God  and  man. 
This  deceit  he  conceives  as  the  worft  of  vices,  becaufc 
it  feeds  and  multiplies  all  the  others  ;  flnce  the  con- 
fcience  becomes  deadened,  when  praying  and  going  to 
church  is  thought  to  repair  every  thing.  Nothing 
therefore  fo  much  agitates  him  as  thefe  perfuafjons,  fo 
common  in  the  country. — It  happened  one  day,  that  he 
was  in  company  with  two  of  the  leading  men  in  his  par- 
ifh.  whom  he  had  jiill  alfifled  in  pacifying  a  warm  dii- 
pute  between  two  neighbors  ;  when  the  converfation 
turned  upon  the  fertility  of  his  fields.  One  of  them 
r^rjr/; rr;r?   Vmc  . ^^Q^.•^,Tv.^.n^  ^t-  ^j^^  great  amount  of  his 

wheat 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES-  lo^ 

^vHeat  harveft  ;  when  the  other,  who  was  always  talk- 
ing of  the  importance  of  going  to  church,  interrupted 
him  by  faying,  ''  and  this  without  prayino  much  to  Gud'^  / 
' — "•  This  is  more  than  you  can  know,  replied  Khyogg  ; 
'•  but  on  my  fide  I  know,  that  God  blefles  all  honed  and 
*'  diligent  labor,  and  loves  thofe  who  eat  no  bread  which 
^^  their  own  hands  have  not  provided.*^— -^'^  Woik,  re- 
'*•  plied  the  critic,  is  without  doubt  proper  ;  but  read- 
*'  iiig  and  praying  mull,  be  added,  or  of  what  ufe  would 
*'  be  ali  our  good  books  of  devotion  r'* — ^^  And  I,  faid 
^'  Kllyogg,  know  more  than  one  of  thefe  books  witii 
*'  which  it  would  be  better  to  warm  the  body,  than  the 
''  imagination  ;  for  ali  thefe  pious  readings  render  men 
"  prejkming;  and  they  think  to  difpenfe  themfelvesfrom 
""  paying  any  attention,  when  duty  and  good  works  arc 
''  called  for/' — ^^  Heavens  !  what  fcandal  can  exceed 
"^  this,  (anfwcred  the  other  ;  with  a  fury  like  that  whicli 
''  belongs  to  the  orthodox  theologian,  when  pronoun- 
'^  cing  upon  the  writings  ofaphilofophical  theologian  :) 
^'  It  is  plain  that  you  have  no  religion,  iince  you  make 
^'  To  little  account  of  divine  v/orfliip,  and  of  prayer  !" — - 
''  I  love  religion  (laid  Kiiyogg)  from  the  bottom  of  my 
^''  heart  ;  ?^nd  I  go  very  willingly  to  church,  to  edify 
'•  myfelf ;  but  unlefs  there  are  good  v/orks,  1  maintaia 
'^'  that  all  public  worfliip,  prayer,  and  pious  books  arc 
•^^  v/holly  ufelefs.  If  any  one  meditates  an  ur.jufl  adr, 
^'  or  i'eeks  to  cheat  his  neighbor,  his  prayers  are  io  ma- 
"  ny  falilioods  ;  for  ho v/  can  he  in  effecl  lenoufly  ^d« 
*'  drefs  himfelf  to  God  and  afl^  his  bleffing,  when  he  de- 
''  figns  a^n  unjufl  a<Sl,  and  ufes  fraud  and  artifice  to  pro- 
^'  cure  his  living  ?  If  this  is  religion,  is  it  not  better  to 
^^  be  without  it  ?'" — '*'  What  horrors,  (returned  his  an- 
^' tagonili- !)  |  now  believe  what  I  have  heard,  to  be 
^•^  true  ;  that  yt>u  have  worked  on  the  afternoon  of  holy 
^'Thuriday,  after  having  taken  the  facrament  in  the 
"  morning;  and  that  on  a  Sunday  you  have  carried 
^'your  plough  from  one  field  to  another,  to  be  ready 
^^  for  your  v;ork  on  the  Monday  morning/'' 


no  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

*/  true  (faid  KHyogg  ;)  but  as  to  the  holy  Thurfday^ 
^-  the  magillrate  did  not  order  me  to  refrain  from  v/ork  j 
^^  and  fince,  when  I  took  the  f'acramci^l,  I  made  a  frefh 
'^  prpmifc  to  God  to  fulfil  all  my  duties  j  I  thought  it 
*'  no  lirLon  that  afternoon  to  attend  to  my  calling,  which 
''  is  the  mod  important  of  the  duties  which  God  has 
^'  impofed  upon  me.  1  agree  alfo  that  I  have  carried 
*'  my  plough  from  one  field  to  another,  on  the  Sunday  5 
*'  but  is  there  more  evil  in  this,  than  in  playing  at  Piine- 
'^  pins  on  that  day,  as_)/<?z^  are  accuflomed  to  do,  with 
*'  fo  many  others  ?  Does  not  the  clergyman  carry  his 
•'^  books  from  one  place  to  anotlicr,  every  Sunday  ;  and 
^'  what  aie  thefe  but  the  inftruments  of  his  vocation  I 
^^  If  the  elTcnce  of  Cbriftisnity  confiRs  in  idlenefs,  it 
^'  would  be  very  eafy  to  be  a  Chriflian,  and  would  luit 
^'  the  fancy  of  many^'." 

Yoa  may  judge  from  this,  fir,  that  Kliyogg  is  not  of 
the  number  of  j  igid  Chriftians  ;  for  he  would  not  even 
he  a  true  believer,  if  for  this  purpoie  it  were  neceffary 
to  believe,  that  the  eflence  of  Chriftianity  lay  much 
more  in  precepts,  than  in  the  application  of  thefe  pre- 
cepts to  the  improvement  of  manrjers. — But  he  has  been 
vevy  far  from  boriovv^ing  his  mode  of  confidering  reli- 
gion from  our  philofophical  or  moral  clergymen  ;  for 
I  repeat,  tliat  he  fcarcely  knows  any  book  befides  his  bi- 
ble and  catechifm.  It  is  to  the  fnperiority  of  his  rea- 
son, that  he  owes  every  thing  :  it  is  by  attending  to  its 
fuggeftions  alone,  that  he  has  arrived  at  that  internal 
calm  and  that  fvvcet  content,  which  have  fucceeded  the 
troubled  mind  with  which  the  myflical  opinions  he  had 

adopted, 


*  Jefos  feetrec!  to  allow  that  woiks  of  real  exigence  may  be  done  on 
tbc  Snnday,  when  he  fpoke  of  the  afa  being  led  away  to  watering  or  tak- 
en out  of  the  pit  on  {h,u  «lay. — Bot  a  divitje  may  fay,  that  this  has 
tjothlng  to  do  with  oor  crdinnry  wQik. — The  Sunday  is  chiefly  defigncd 
n<;  a  day  of  reft,  adds  Hu»  philanthropic  j  anil  the  preparation  for  the 
*vIonday's  work  might  ciihcr  have  t.iken  place  on  the  Saturday  right  o*" 
Monday  morning, '  without  giving  the  cxairple  of  premeditated  la»>or  07. 
ihe  S'jndsy,  which  may  not  only  fali  up-.nnian,  bat  npnn  cattle.     ?- 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.         '      tti 

adopted,  formerly  overwhelmed  him.  He  is  now  fo 
well  confirmed  in  his  principles  that  nothing  can  fliake 
them. — The  youngcft  cf  his  children  died  not  long 
iince,  of  a  malignant  fever,  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  act;, 
KliyojTg  had  a  fingnlar  affevflion  for  him,  becaufe  from 
his  infancy  he  had  (hewn  a  very  peculiar  tafle  for  agri- 
culture ;  all  his  plays  being  only  fo  many  imitations  of 
ploughing,  manuring,  and  other  agricultural  v^orks. 
The  diforder  had  thrown  the  child  into  a  delirium  v^hich 
never  quitted  him  ;  and  in  his  r?imblings  he  ahvays 
conceived  himfelf  to  be  in  the  fields  at  v»^ork.  His 
mother  thought  thefe  not  the  proper  objc6ls  of  contem- 
plation for  a  dying perfon  ;  and  wifhed  to  prepare  him 
for  death,  by  reading  the  forms  of  prayer  adapted  to 
the  occafion.  '' Of  what  ufe  is  this,,  (faid  Kliyogg,) 
*"'  when  the  poor  child  is  not  in  a  condition  to  compre- 
*'  Jiend  any  of  thefe  things  :  Pray  for  yourfelf  only  ; 
'^  fmce  (lowering  his  tone  of  voice,)  reading  aloud  can 
*'  have  no  other  effed:  than  to  diflurb  our  dear  pa- 
''  tient." — '^  But  what  if  he  (liould  die,  (faid  tb.e  moth- 
'^  er,)  without  our.  having  prayed  v.'ith  him  :'* — '-''•  \^ 
'«  he  dies,  (faid  Kliyogg,)  he  will  die  in  his  calling, 
'*  fince  his  whole  thoughts  are  bent  upon  agricultj;re  ; 
"  and  fee  how  tranquil  he  is  wilh  it  ;  while  your  Y'^zy-, 
*'  ing  aloud,  I  repeat,  will  only  difturb  this  tranqaillity, 
'^  Pray  yourfelf  to  God  in  filence,  that  he  will  deign  to 
*'  receive  him  into  his  favor,  if  fuch  is  his  will."  — 
^'  But  what  v/ill  people  fay,  if  we  neglccr  thefe 
*'  things  r"— ''  It  does  not  concern  us,  what  people  will 
'*  fay,  when  the  quefiion  is  only  what  is  right  ;  snd  I 
*'  fee  no  u(e  in  repeating  to  a  child  who  is  out  of  his 
''  mind,  things  which  he  cannot  comprehend,  I  am 
"  perfuaded  on  tlie  contrary,  that  it  would  be  unpar- 
'^  donable  to  rifque  diilurbing  the  fcienitv  of  our 
*'  child  in  the  lalh  n^oments  of  his  life  ;  antl  I  defiie 
"  you  would  be  contented,  at  prefenr,  with  recom- 
^'  mending  him  to  God  'divA  his  divine  providence.'"' — 
Saying  this,  he  took  l;er  book  and  (hut  it  ;  adhering  thuif 

a  I  v/ ays 


u^  THE  RUilAL  S0GR.ATE5. 

always  to  his  grand  principle,  that  the  exlericr  of  reli-^ 
gion  is  only  good  when  reaibn  avows  it  and  the  heart 
participates  in  itt 

We  may  lee  from  hence  that  very  found  and  very 
vigorous  good  fenfe  properly  forms  the  diftinguifhing 
quality  of  our  philofopher.  Not  that  he  wants  imagi- 
nation, as  we  may  jndge  from  the  illnftrations  he  em- 
ploys to  give  clearnefs  to  his  ideas,  (of  which  my  narra- 
tive reipeiSling  him  farnifhes  more  than  one  example  ;) 
but  his  imagination  is  always  kept  in  fubordination  to 
his  reafon,  and  only  ferves  to  furnifh  him  Vv'ith  figures 
to  render  his  difcoiirfe  more  impretiive.  As  to  poetic 
thoughts  ;  I  do  not  recolleft  his  having  difcovered  a 
iingle  one.  Neverthelefs  he  feizes  and  feels  with  force, 
whatever  is  beautiful  in  nature  or  in  morals  ;  and  what- 
ever he  feels,  he  perfe^lly  knows  how  to  cxprefs  ;  but 
it  is  more  by  the  animated  and  heavenly  movements 
of  his  countenance,  than  by  any  choice  of  words.— 
PF'hat  redly  renders  him  an  extraordinary  man^  is  the 
pcrfcH  and  mfeparahle  a^^recment  of  his  thoughts^  his 
ivords^  and  his  aClions,  This  agreement  I  never  fiiw 
£o  forcible  in  any  other  man  ;  and  it  is  this  which  at- 
taches to  him  the  admiration  and  good-will  of  thofe 
who  know  him  ;and  renders  him  worthy  of  the  feelings 
which  certain'  refpec^able  perfons  have  for  him,  in  con- 
iequeilce  of  the  feeble  portrait  by  which  I  have  made 
him  known.  Their  elleeni  for  him  I  am  perfuaded 
would  increnfe,  could  they  h?.  eye-witneffes  to  a  life,; 
the  whole  of  which  is  in  harwovy  ivitk  itjelf. 


ciEGTIOM 


tfHE  llUPiAL  SdcrtATES.  it^ 


SECTION    it 

Qfths  Tniervievj  between  Prince  Louis  Eugene  of  PVir^ 
temberg  and  Kliyogg^  at  the  Helvetic  Society* . 

IT  was  in  the  year  1765,  at  the  baths  of,  Schintznatch 
and  in  the  midft  of  the  Helvetic  Society y  that  his  Serene 
Highnefs  prince  Eugene  of  Wirtembcrg%  defired  to 
fee  Kliyogg,  my  defcription  of  whom  had  been  fo  for- 
tunate as  to  excite  in  him  fomc  interefl.***  He  had 
written  me  a  letter  of  which  the  following  are  extra(Si:,3* 
-r— *V  I  have  often  v/ept  over  the  ravifhing  and  affecting 
V  pi6lure  you  have  drawn  of  this  philolophical  peafant* 
".  He  confirras  me  more  aiid  more  in*the  opinion  which 
^*- I  have  long  entertained,  that  the  man  who  is  the 
*'  happiefl:,  is  at  the  fame  time  the  greatefl.  We  are 
*'  great,  when  we  fulfil  with  zeal  and  exa(n:nefs  our  du- 
"  ties  towards  our  country  and  our  fellow  creatures  J 


.  *  The  account  in  this  feftion,  ?«  extracted  from  a  letter  written  by  Dr^ 
Hirzel,  to  Mr.  Gleim  canon  of  Halberftadt,  a  celebrated  German  poet. 

+  This  was  a  worthy,  but  bigoited  prince,  not  ipuch  in  favor  with 
Mr,  Gibbon,  (See  the  pofturoous  publications  of  that  gentleman.}  He 
Joined  the  coalition  of  fovereigns  againft  France  with  great  zeal  ;  but  ac 
laft  was  obliged  to  think  of  negotiation  uith  that  country.  He  died 
before  he  couid  conclude  any. — He  was  fucceeded  by  his  brother,  who 
at  firft  perfifted  in  the  plan  of  negotiating,  but  afterwards  departed  froax 
it  ;  though  a  fudden  death  prevented  this  change  of  fyftem  from  appear^, 
in^, — The  reigning  Duke  of  Wirtcmberg,  who  finiflied  this  projefted  ne- 
gotiation by  a  leniporary  peace/  afterwards  osariied  the  princefs  royal  of 
England.  One  of  his  frfters  would  Iiave  been  at  this  time  emprefs  o£ 
Aujiritti  but  for  the  death  of  her  confort  ;  while  another  of  bis  fifters  is 
aftually  the  wife  of  Paul  the  prefent  emperor  of /J^^/T^.  (A.  D,  1797.) 
.  The  Helvetic  Society  here  alluded  to  was  inftituted  in  1761,  having 
for  its  members  many  enlightened  perfons  iti  Switzerland,  who  m«t  annu- 
ally to  hear  a  dlfcourfe  from  the  prefident  of  the  year,  and  to  enjoy  ths 
benefit  of  each  other*  conveifation  for  the  three  days  during  which  the; 
affembly  continued.  It  was  held  in  the  month  of  May.  Schintznatch  was 
the  firft  place  of  the  meeting^;  but  after  fume  fufpenfion,  the  annua!  af- 
iecnbly  was  next  held  at  Olicn,  and  finally  at  Ataa» 
P 


114  '^HE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

*'  we  are  happy,  when  we  love  our  condition  and  the 
''  duties  which  it  impofcs,  and  enjoy  the  delightful  con- 
*'  vid:ion  of  it,  and  the  fatisfadtion  which  an  honed  man 
**  feels  when  he  finds  tliat  he  can  refped:  himfeif  for  his 
*'  condudl.**^  I  am  thoroughly  fenfible.  how  much 
''  this  comparative  efiimate  lowers  thofe  proud  mortals, 
**  who  wifh  to  fubmit  every  thing  to  their  ambition  ; 
*'  but  on  the  other  hand,  it  mufl;  elevate  fublime  minds, 
*'  which  is  exadly  v/hat  is  ufeful  for  humanity/' 

You  may  eafily  believe  that  I  very  willingly  accepted 
the  propofal  which  hishighnefs  made  me,  of  bringingmy 
peafant  phiiofopher  to  Schintznatch. — ^^Ifenc  with  fpeed 
a  mefTenger  to  Kliyogg  ;   well  affured  that  he  would' 
not  fail  to  come  immediatelyj  nothing  being  fo  natural 
to  him  as  to  give  {^cafure  to  his  friends  ;  and  I  went  the 
following  day  to  Brugg  to  wait  for  him  at  the  houfe  of 
my  dear  Zimmerman. — -My  friend  Kliyogg   appeared' 
the  day  after,  very  early  in  the  morning.    He  had  walk- 
ed ail  the  night,  having  travelled  feven  leagues  without 
flopping  ;  except  to  refrefli  himielf  under  a  tree  with  a' 
bit  of  bread  which  he  had  brought  in  his  pocket,   and 
with  a  draught  of  frefh  water  taken  from  a  neighboring 
ipring.  He  had  on  him  a  peafant  drefs  of  ticking  [coutij  ' 
which  was  very  clean  :  and  if  his  habit  wa!s  not  impo- 
Ung,  there  appeared  a  vivacity  and  a  ferenity  upon  his 
countenance  which  won  every  heart. 

The  burgravc  of  Donha  had  alfo  come  to  Brugg  • 
to  meet  Kliyogg. When  I  explained  to  Kli- 
yogg the  rank  of  this  young  nobleman,  and  his  re- 
lationfhip  to  Frederic  of  PrufTia,  whom  Kliyogg  had ' 
fo  often  admired  ;  he  looked  at  the  burgrave  with  the 
piercing  eye  of  an  obferver.  He  then  gave  his  heart- 
felt praifes  to  this  king  of  PruiTia  ;  ''who  (he  faid) 
*'  would  never  have  performed  miracles  had  he  not  al- 
**  ways  been  the  fir Jl  at  work, — The  example  of  this 
*'  prince,  (continued  he,  with  a  movement  of  his  head 
'^  which  in  him  always  announces  a  peculiar  emotion,) 
^'  has  not  a  little  cojitributed  to  raifc  my  own  courage, 

*<  when 


^HE   RURAL  SOCRATES-  ny 

/?<  when  I  have  been  upon  the  point  of  (Inking  under 
"  difficulties  in  the  adminiftration  of  my  own  liour- 
*'  hold.  Ah  1  faid  I  to  myfelf,  it  is  neccfTary  to  work 
^'  without  being  difheartcned  ;  and  to  be  always  there, 
*'  where  the  labor  Is  moft  feverc  j  the  firfl  in  the  morn« 
"  ing,  and  the  lall:  at  night.  Without  this,  things 
*'  could  not  go  on ;  for  believe  me,  firs,  if  the  mafter  is 
>'  not  always  foreniofl,  and  fails  to  fhew  to  others  by 
^'  his  example  the  manner  in  v/hich  every  thing  is  to  be 
^'  performed,  all  is  undone.  The  fervant  who  knows 
*'  and  who  can  dp  a  thing  better  than  his  maflcr,  fol- 
*'  lows  his  own  plcafiire  in  it,  which  will  never  lead  him 
''  to  waile  his  (Irength  in  increafing  the  wealth  of  one 
*'  whom  he  defpifes  ;  but  he  will  rather  think  of  his; 
*'  own  advantage  ;  and  how  to  obtain  the  bed  pay  and 
"  the  molt  perquifites/^ — It  was  thus  that  our  philofo- 
pher  diiplayed  his  wifdom  from  the  firfl  moment  of 
this  interviev/v— When  I  endeavored  to  alarm  him,  by 
telling  him  that  he  was  about  to  receive  the  honor  of  be- 
ing prefented  to  a  prince,  it  was  all  in  vain.  He  only 
exprelTed  his  joy  at  finding  that  fuch  great  perfonages 
could  carry  their  love  of  mankind  fo  far,  as  to  hold 
converfe  with  peafants  ;  fince  in  this  condefcenfion  he 
»faw  the  furefl  means  of  Ipreading  plenty  and  happinefs 
.over  the  earth. 

We  now  mounted  an  open  carriage  to  go  to  Schintz- 
.natch.— x\s  the  road  crofTed  various  cultivated  fields, 
the  burgrave  took  occafion  to  bring  Kliyogg  upon  the 
.chapter  of  agriculture,  queflioning  him  about  different 
new  forts  of  grain,  and  artificial  graffes,  <&c.***.  Kli- 
yogg condemned  nothing  I  but  only  maintained,  that 
agriculture  did  not  fail  fo  much  from  the  want  of  ufe- 
ful  plants,  as  of  a  proper  preparation  of  the  earth.  *'A11 
*'  thefe  liew  fpecies  of  grain  and  artificial  graffes  v/ill 
*'  fervenopurpofe,  (faid  he)  if  there  is  a  neglect  of  tillage 
*'  and  of  manuring,  the  quantity  of  which  latter  mufi: 
*^  be  increafed  with  the  greateft  care  ;  thefe  new  pro- 
s**  duftioDS  rcauiriog  as  much  preparation  of  the  earthy 


U6  XHe  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

^•'  as  the  ordinary  produdlions  which  we  aheady  poiTcfso 
*^  1  have  neverthelefs  (he  added)  feen  fome  perfons  who 
f  have  devoted  ail  their  care  and  their  befl  manure  to 
*'  thefe  new  articles,  while  they  have  neglected  every  thing 
•^^  elle  upon  their  farms/' — The  converfation  afterwards  . 
jturned  upon  the  cultivation  of  madder,  with  which  Kli- 
yogg  was  wholly  unacquainted  ;  bqt,  when  he .  learned 
that  it  injured  other  articles  of  culture,  it  foon  ceafed  to 
excite  his  curiohty.  ''*■  Our  vines,  (faid  he  fmiling,) 
J"'  for  which  we  have  fo  much  ^ffedion,  do  injury 
*'  enough  in  this  way  ;  our  poor  fields  and  meadows 
f'  beipg  left  to  janient  the  want  of  that  manure,,  which 
^^  we  give  wholly  to  the  juicfs  of  the  grape."  ^ 
''  It  was  in  the  midll  of  difcourfe  of  this  kind,  that  v^e 
found  ourfplvjLJS  near  the  entrance  of  the  houfe  at  the 
baths,  i^rince  Louis  Kugene  of  Wirtemberg  had  al- 
ready come  out  with  all  the  members  of  the  Society,  to 
receive  our  country  philofopher.  I  took  Kliyogg  by 
the  hand  to  condudi:  him  towards  the  prince,  whole  firft 
meafurc  v/as  to  embrace  hini  with  i^nuch  emotion  ;  fay- 
ing, '^I  have  great  joy  Kliyogg  in  feeing  you,  after  all 
''^  the  good  I  have  heard  of  you.''— '^  And  I  alfo,  my 
'^^  prince,  am  glad  to  fee  you,  (anfv^ercd  the  villager, 
^' with  the  mod  marked  fatisfadlon  paipted  in « his 
**  eyes  :)  How  charming  is  it,  when  great  perfons  lik^ 
^'  you,  have  condefccnfion  for  us  poor  peafants  !'' — '» It 
'^  is  no  condefcenfion  in  your  caje,  replied  the  generous 
*'  prince  ;  fori  feekto  raife  myfelf  to  your  flandard, 
^'  fince  you  are  more  elevated  than  I  am;*'  and  her^ 
the  eyes  of  our  philanthropic  prince  gliftened  with  tears. 
— Kiiyogg,  was  for  a  moment  di (concerted  ;  but  foon 
recovering  himfelf,  he  faid,  '^  We  are  both  good,  if 
^^  each  of  us  does  what  he  ought  to  do.  You  princes 
*'  and  great  men  fhould  tell  us  what  ought  to  be  done 
*"''  and  the  manner  of  doing  it  ;  i'ov  you  have  leifure  to 
''^  examine  and  wcigii  well  what  is  mofl  uleful  to  a 
*'  country  :  and  it  afterwards  belongs  to  us  peafants,  lo 
/^^  pbcy,  and  to  work  with  zeal  and  integrity  ;  and  thus 

^      ''  together  ' 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES*  ji; 

.¥  together  we  form  the  entire  man*  Howevever  advan- 
*'  tagcous  for  thecountry  may  be  the  tendency  of  your 
"'  wilefl:  deliberations,  your  work  is  bat  half  proceeded 
*'  in,  and  the  good  is  not  yet  realized,  till  the  fubjed:, 
'*  the  peafant,  puts  his  hand  to  the  bufinefs  :  but  v»^c 
*'  fhould  crofs  each  other  in  our  exertions  and  bring  on 
*'  confufion,  and  the  good  would  be  ftill  undone,  if  you 
*'  did  not  keep  us  in  order.  Thus  the  peafant  is  but 
*'  half  of  a  man^  and  ths  great  lord  alfo  is  but  the  other 
*'  half  of  a  man;  and  it  is  only  when  they  both  join, 
*'  that  the  man  appears  as  a  v/hole,  and  that  the  work 
'Succeeds/' — If  our  philofophic  prince  was  afloniflied 
at  the  jullnefs  of  the  ideas  of  our  villager  and  at  the 
luminous  manner  in  which  he  difplayed  them  ;  he  waf 
flill  more  io  at  the  interior  content  which  he  read  in  his 
eyes,  while  he  was  fpeaking  :  in  fhort,  he  faw  the  whole 
value  of  Kliyogg :  He  therefore  replied,  "  You  have 
*^ju(l  uttered  a  heavenly  truth  ;  and  it  isprecifely  becaufc 
"  you  reprefent  fo  well  your  half  of  theintire  man,  and 
*'  fulfil  ybur  duty  with  fo  much  integrity,  that  I  love  and 
''honor  you.  I  wifh  to  heaven,  that  I  could  affirm  as 
^^  much  myfelf,  and  with  the  fame  confidence  ;''  faying 
which  he  a  fecond  time  embraced  Kliyogg  : — '*  I  fee,  my 
f  prince,  (replied  the  villager)  by  the  manner  in  which 
*'  you  fpeak  to  me,  that  you  fulfil  the  duties  of  your 
^^  fituation,  as  well  as  I  can  do  thofe  of  mine  ;  and  you 
"  cannot  believe  to  what  a  degree  my  heart  feels  elated 
^'  at  your  behaviour.  My  labors  will  become  doubly 
"  dear  to  me,  fince  I  perceive  that  they  pleafe  fo  good 
*'  a  prince  ;  and  you  would  not  proceed  thus  towards 
**  me,  if  you  were  not  accuflomcd  to  do  the  fame  to 
f'  others.  Indeed  you  are  not  aware  of  all  the  good 
*'  which  will  be  produced  by  your  condqfcenfion  and  fa> 
*^  miliarity."  '*  I  oughtrather  to  take  your  place  (faid  the 
^*  incomparable  prince,with  his  heart  again  penetrated ;) 
''  for  it  is  you, who  encourage  well  doing  ;  yon,  who  are 
^'  better  than  myfelf." — Kliyogg,  who  was  now  much 
affeiSled,  anfwered,  with  a  ton^  «f  fenfibility  which  madq: 


ii3  THE  KUKAL  .SOCRATES. 

a  ftrong  itnpreflion  upon  the  hi^arts  of  all  pr^Ient  : 
.-*'  WichouC  doubt,  it:  is  more  difficult  to  do  good  in  your 
^'  fituation,  than  for  a  fabje«5i: ;  for  when  we  fall  into 
*'  error  or  a^St  contrary  to  juftice,  you  are  at  hand  to  fet 
*'  us  right  or  to  punilh  us  ;  but  when  perfons  in  your 
*'  fphere  do  wrong,  you  have  no  fuperior  to  do  the 
^'  fame  to  you ;  you  are  abandoned  to  yourfelves 
.*'  and  to  your  confciences,  and  alas  !  how  difficult  is  it 
*^  for  us  to  govern  ourfelves/*— -The  prince  anfwered 
no  otherwife  than  by  fhewing  a  lilcnt  admiration,  which 
ipread  itfelf  over  the  v/hole  company  ;  who  were  ftruck 
to  liear  fuch  important  truths  delivered  with  fuch  frank- 
nefs  and  noble  fimplicity  by  a  peafant. — The  prince 
iiDw  putting  his  arm  into  that  of  Kliyogg,  led  him  into 
his  own  apartment  to  converfe  with'him  in  private. 

During  all  this  time  f  had  continued  fllently  to  ob- 
ferve  the  countenances  of  thefc  tv/o  a^^ors.  I  faw  with 
the  deepefl:  fenHitions,  how  two  fouls,  each  fo  noble, 
palled  one  into  the  other  ;  I  admired  in  them,  m'an  in 
all  his  grandeur  :  the  pri»nce  and  the  peafant  alike  dit 
appeared  ;  I  perceived  only  two  of  the  mod  excellent 
of  men,  born  to  love  one  another  :  and  i  had  the  happi- 
nefs  to  feel  that  I  myfelf  was  beloved  by  them  both. 

The  whole  of  the  afternoon  and  a  great  part  of  the 
day  following,  Kliyogg  was  the  obje<9:  of  the  moft  curi- 
ous attention  of  all  the  members  of  the  Society  who 
were  prefent.  He  v/as  quedioned  much  about  his  agri- 
culture, his  manner  of  educating  his  children,  and  his 
leligious  principles  ;  and  he  anfwered  thcfe  queftions 
with  a  noble  freedom,  whicli  gained  him  more  and  more 
the  affections  of  his  auditory,  and  cfpecially  that  of  his 
iilluflrious  friend. — As  formyfelf,  I  fometimes  kept  at  a 
diftance,  to  give  thofe  who  had  hitherto  known  Kliyogg 
bymy  defcriptiononly,  the  full  means  of  examining  him; 
and  when  I  approached  afterwards  to  hear  the  opinions 
that  were  given,  I  received  at^fird  many  flattering  com- 
pliments on  the  fubjedl  of  my  philofopher  ;  my  hero 
being  thought  happy  in  having  fo  good  an  hiftorian.— • 

Many 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  n^ 

Mfiny  however  had,  as  yet,  only  heard  a  fitnplc  laborer^ 
with  great  fenfc  it  is  true  j  but  he  had  faid  nothing 
but  what  was  common  about  agricuhure ;  not  being 
at  all  famiJiar,  for  inflance,  with  the  new  difcover- 
ies  ;***  and  knowing  nothing  beyond  the  culture  ufed 
in  his  own  part  of  the  country,  and  fceking  only  by  ob- 
ftinate  labor  to  perfe£l  what  he  had  in  view,  in  the  man- 
ner I  have  defciibed.  Others  looked  for  learning  in  . 
him,  without  finding  it  ;  but  they  perceived  inflead-  of 
it  a  great  fund  of  found  reafon,  and  a  natural  good 
fenfe  which  he  applied  happily  to  every  cafe  which  pre- 
fented  itfelf  in  the  narrow  fphere  in  which  Providence 
had  placed  him  ;  a  quality  which  lefs  creates  furprize, 
€xa<Slly  as  it  approaches  perfedlion. '  It  is  with  this  qual- 
ity indeed,  as  with  a  natural  flyle  ;  which  is  then  only 
perfe6?:,  when  it  is  equally  intelligible  to  all  the  worlds' 
and  when  each  thinks  it  is  that  which  himfelf  and  every 
one  elfe  would  have  employed  upon  tbe,ranae  occaricn-— = 
•^**Thus  Kliyogg  was  at  iirft  thought  only  to  be  a  com- 
mon  peafant,  and  a  great  part  of  the  interefl  which  bis 
chara£lcr  had  excited,  was  fuppofed  owirg  to  the  co- 
loring of  the  painter.  But  infenfibly,  the  aflonifhing" 
fenfc  of  our  fage,  and  his  judgment  which  was  true  and' 
never  at  a  fault,  infpired  an  eflcem  which  increaf- 
cd  continually  ;  infdmuch  that  in  the  end  he  left  the 
greateft  part  of  his  auditory  in  an^  admiration  bordering 
upon  enthufiafm,  and  which  by  the  manner  in  which  he 
parted  from  us  was  carried  to  its  utraofi  height. -—It: 
was  then  that  I  found  every  one  agreeing  with  me,  that 
my  portrait  had  fallen  very  fhort  of  the  beauty  cf  the 
original. 

Kliyogg  took  leave  of  us  by  expreiling  his  thanks 
fhortly  and  naturally,  for  all  the  marks  of  friendfhip 
which  had  been  lliewn  to  him  5  and  after  adding  his 
nun  behiit  euch  Gott  (may  God  now  keep  you),  he  pre- 
fented  his  hand  to  the  prince  and  was  going,  when  the 
prince  Aid  into  it  a  piece  of  gold. — -''^  What  does  this 
'^  mean,  (faid  Klivogg,)  with  the  fmilc  of  contented' 

*'  eafe  I'' 


iio  tMe  rural  SCJCRATES. 

"  eale  V*  To  v/hich  the  prince  replied,  that  ^*  It  wasoia^ 
*'  ly  a  little  prefent,  by  which  he  wifhed  Kliyogg  td 
*'  keep  himielf  reminded  of  the  pleafure  he  had  given 
*'  him.*' — "•  Kliyogg  then  looking  at  the  piece,  faid 
*' But  it  is  only  money;  of  which  I  have  no  need, 
**  having  enough  arifing  from  my  own  labor,  though  I 
**  am  not  the  iefs  obliged  for  your  politenefs ;''  and  he 
attempted  to  return  it. — "  Keep  it  (faid  his  highnefs  ;) 
*'  you  have  iurely  gained  this  trifie,  llnce  you  have 
*'  quitted  your  l?.bor  to  give  us  pleafure «"  ''  But,  faid 
*'  Kliyogg,  my  pleafure  has  not  been  Iefs  than  yours  ; 
*/  and  fince  I  have  feen  from  you,  that  great  lords  can 
*'  love  induftrious  peafants  ;  1  fhall  fo  redouble  my  ex- 
"  crtions,  that  I  lliall  regain  what  I  have  loft.  You 
*'  cannot  fufficiently  give  credit  to  the  degree  of  fatif- 
*'  faction  I  have  received  ;  and  if  I  were  to  pay  for  the 
*'  pleafure  which  I  have  my  ft  If  juft  felt,  I  fhould  be 
^'  your  debtor.'"' — ''  But  I  have  o'ccafioned  you  expcn- 
*'  ces.'' — '^  By  no  means :  1  came  here  upon  a  morfel  of 
'^  bread  :  you  have  kept  me  free  of  expence,  while  I 
"  have  been  with  you  ;  and  another  morfel  of  bread 
*^  will  carry  me  back.  So  keep  your  money,  fince  I 
**  wifii  for  none  but  that  which  I  acquire  by  the  labor 
*^  of  my  hands  ;  fo^-  as  foon  as  any  one  feeks  to  acquire 
*'  it  by  other  metiiods,  he  is  undone. ''—The  aufterc 
air  with  which  thefelaft  words  were  accompained,  en- 
gaged the  prince  to  take  back  his  money ;  and  he  has  lincc 
acknowledged  to  me,  that  he  never  in  his  life  felt  him- 
felf  fopoor  as  at  this  moment, — Oixr  philofophic  peafant, 
(now  acknowledged  as  fiich)  here  returned  towards  hisf 
home,  loaded  with  our  bencdidions^t 

*  Our  author  has  neglefted  :o  obferve  here,  that  the  prince  placed  Kli« 
yogg  by  his  fide  at  the  two  meals  which  our  philofopher  maJe  at  Schintz- 
natch,  the  whole  company  always  dining  at  the  fame  tabic.  He  put  bim 
in  the  fame  pofition  at  the  pubHc  meeting  of  the  Society,  at  which  ilfd 
Kliyogg  aflil^id.     F 


SECTION 


illE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  i^l 


SECTION  m. 

Particulars  concerjiing  the  additional  Farm  of  Kliyognrl 
Farther  j^ccoimts  rejpeding  his  Fatnily.  His  Bcfm^ 
viour  at  ihelVedding  of  his  Jecond  Son, 

JULY  2  2,  1774.—-  ^^'y^gg  ^^^^  lives*  5  and  though 
a  fenfible  change  has  occurred  in  his  favor,  he  hinifelf  is 
always  the  fame.  He  not  only  cultivates  his  own  pro- 
perty after  the  principles  he  originally  l:iid  dovi^n,  but 
another  much  more  confiderabie,  at  four  leagues 
diilance  from  the  former. — His  paternal  property  by 
bis  conPcant  improvements  had  continually  inci^afed  in 
value,  and  he  had  neglcdted  no  occafion  to  add  to  its 
limits.  But  additions  to  it  had  become  every  day  more 
difficult.  His  example  had  created  a  blaze  of  emula- 
tion in  his  neighborhood  ;  where  his  manner  of  cultiva- 
tion was  begun  to  be  pradifed,  the  fuccefs  of  it  having 
been  fo  manifefl.  From  hence  aroie  eafe,  and  an  at- 
tachment of  the  proprietor  to  his  foil  ;  which  rendered 
the  fales  of  land  lefs  frequent,  as  well  as  ccnfiderably 
raifed  its  price. — This  led  Kliyogg  to  think  of  renting  a 
farm  of  a  certain  extent  ;  and  it  h2ppe*"ied  fr)rtunately 
that  one  of  this  nature  became  vacant  exaftly  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Zurich. — His  predecelTors  in  it  had 
followed  ma:\ims  diametrically  oppofite  to  his  own* 
Naturally  idle,  it  appeaired  to  them  peculiarly  irkfome 
to  improve  a  property"  which  wgs  not  their  own  and 
which  belonged  even  to  a  corporate  body  t  fothat  tliefe 
fenfelefs  people  were  anxious  to  obtain  the  produce  of 
the  farm  with  the  lead:  poffible  trouble.  The  efFe£i:  of 
thefe  fine  reafonings  was,  tliat  the  farm  became  every 
year  worfe  ;  and  that  its  produce  diminiOied  to 
fuch  a  degree,  that  their   arable  land,  taxes  Included p 

fcarcely 

*  This  f^aion  is  extraded  from  a  letter  wntteo  by  Dr.  HirSsel  so  %h.t 


li22  -THE  RURAL  SOCRATSS. 

fcarcely  replaced  the  feed  it  called  for.  They  had  re- 
courfe  therefore  to  the  keeping  of  a  tavern  ;  which,  en- 
couraging them  flill  more  in  an  idle  life,  they  fuffercd 
it  expences  greatly  to  exceed  its  profits,  their  debts  ac^- 
cumulatcd,  and  the  abandonment  of  the  farm  was  quick- 
ly the  refult  oftheir  bad  conduvSl. 

The  chamber  of  finances,  having  his  Excellency  Mr. 
Heidegguer  at  its  heiad,  looked  out  for  a  perfon  who 
had  capacity  and  courage  to  reflore  a  farm  thus  redu^ 
ced,  and  who  at  the  feme  time  fhpuld  find  his  account 
in  fo  doing. — ^^It  happened  likewife  that  this  farm,  by 
its  fltuation,  promifed  a  Iccond  advantage  from  Ibch  an 
employment  of  it ;  being  placed  between  two  villages 
where  agriculture  was  in  a  very  low  ftate,  not  to  fay 
entirely  negle«3:cd.  If  the  farm  which  belonged  to  the 
republic,  focceeded  from  able  management,  the  force  of 
the  example  might  produce  a  happy  ferment  among  the 
inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood,  awaken  a  zeal  for 
agriculture,,  and  reflore  eafe  and  an  ufeful  population* 
We  call  that  an  ufeful  population,  where  the  parties  are 
healthy,  robufl,  and  laborious  :  which  is  very  different 
from  the  weak,  debauched,  and  idle  race  fo  often  pro- 
duced by  an  ill  underftood  zeal  for  manufactures. — 
When  things  were  viewed  under  this  afped,  the  merit 
of  Klivogg  could  fcarcely  efcapc  the  vigilant  eye  of  the 
government.  He  was  adviied  to  propofchimfclf  tbere- 
fv)re  as  a  tenant  ;  and  was  accepted  vrith  univerfal  ap- 
plaufe. 

The  property  confifted  of  (ixty-five  journeaux*  of 
tneado'v  land,  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  arable 
land,  four  journeaux  of  vines,  and  twelve  acres  of  com^ 
mon  wood  (that  is,  a  wood  not  confiding  of  pines  and 
firs.)  It  had  the  advantage  of  being  all  connected  ;- 
having  a  vaft  houfe  in  the  middle,  two  barns,  and  a 
prefs,  which  joined  to  a  granary,     Thefituation  of  this 

doriiain 

*  Journeaux  arc  quantities  of  Isnd   capable  oi  b^ing  each  worked  m 
one  day,     E, 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  ^23 

domain  is  very  agreeable,  being  upon  the  fide  of  a  hill 
which  has  a  gentle  defcent  to  the  Katzenbatch  ;  which 
is  a  ftream  formed  by  the  overflowing  of  the  Katzenfee 
i(6r  lake  of  cats.)***  But  what  gives  the  mod  plea- 
lure  to  Kliyogg  is,  that  he  difcovers  from  it  his  paternal 
property,  four  leagues  diftant  ;  v^here  he  goes  from 
time  to  time  to  direct  what  is  neceffary  to  be  done. — 
The  land  of  the  farm  is  of  a  different  quitlity  from  that 
of  his  own  property  ;  almoll  all  the  fields  of  the  farm 
being  of  a  heavy,  clayey  foil,  or  at  leafh  having  a  clayey 
bottom  ;  though  there  are  fome  fpots  which  are  dry  and 
gravelly,  and  others  where  clay  and  gravel  are  mixed. 
Above  his  fields,  he  finds  a  fandy  earth,  mixed  with 
mica  (or  talk*)  from  which  as  we  fhall  fee  hereafter,  he 
knows  how  to  profit.  The  greater  part  of  the  mea- 
dow land  confifts  of  the  bottom  which  lies  along  the  fide 
of  the  Katzenbatch,  and  is  rendered  marfhy  by  means  of 
the  adjoining  hills  which  command  it  on  every  fide  ; 
and  even  his  fields  have  many  fwampy  places  in  them^ 
owing  to  fprings  which  are  very  injurious  to  arable 
lands,  and  which  in  the  time  of , his  predecefFors  had  rea- 
dered  a  part  abfolutely  wafte. 

Thus  Kliyogg  received  a  farm,  which  both  required 
and  was  capable  of  much  improvement  ;  and  this  was 
exactly  what  he  wanted  ;  fincc  it  gave  him  the  pleafing 
profped:  of  exertions  which  would  be  followed  by  the 
profperity  of  his  increafing  family.  AfFured  of  fuccefs, 
he  gaily  undertook  every  labor  which  thefe  improve- 
ments called  for,  without  being  in  the  leaf!  difcouraged 
by  an  apparent  flerility.  His  penetrating  eye  had  alrea- 
dy detected  the  caufe  of  what  had  hitherto  happened,  in 
the  want  of  labor  and  contrivance  ;  and  he  was  fo  con- 
fident of  his  fuccefs,  that  he  wifhed  to  enter  into  an  en- 
gagement to  increafe  his  tythe  every  year  to  a  certain 
amount,  till  he  fhould  double  it. 

Different 

*  The  mica,  talk,  or  jzlnglafa,  found  in  fand,  is  a  thin,  giiftening  fab- 
Hance,  frequently  yellow  ;  which  at  firft  fight,  3ppe9r?  like  fmall  bits  0^ 
ssutalllc  leavesr    E. 


j>4  "^^^E  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

Different  plans  prefented  themfelves.  The  iirft  and 
apparently  the  ihorteil  would  have  been, to  have  colieded 
money  fufficknt  to  purchaie  at  once  the  cattle,  ftraw, 
and  provender  requifite  for  making  the  manure,  which 
the  exhaiifled  flatc  of  the  land  fcemed  to  demand  ;  and 
to  hirp  laborers  enough  to  execute  the  mod  preifing  im- 
provements. But  this,  Kliyogg  rejected  ;  for  as  he  had 
not  himfelf  the  capital  required,  he  thought  it  dan- 
gerous to  borrow  upon  intereft.  A  bad  year  might 
overfet  him  and  ruin  his  credit,  as  he  had  already  made 
great  advances  in  the  ontfct  of  this  new.  undertaking  ; 
and  he  knew  that  envy  is  never  more  adive  in  attack- 
ing a  man  of  merit,  than  when  fortune  opens  to  him. 
brilliant  profpeds. 

A  flower,  but  Itill  a  certain  method  was,  to  undertake 
thefe  improvements  with  the  hands  with  which  Provi- 
dence had  fo  liberally  blefled  his  family  ;  and  to  feek 
for  every  thing  on  thefpot.  But  even  this  courfe  pre- 
fented  very  great  difficulties,  as  he  required  thefe  fame 
hands  for  working  his  paternal  property  ;  v/hich  if  fold, 
mud  be  at  a  difadvantage,  fmce  it  would  appear  as  aA 
ad:  of  riccelfuy.  As  firmnefs  and  conllancy  how- 
ever, overcome  everything,  Kliyogg  animated  himfelf 
with  the  hght  of  his  children  who  were  already  arrived 
at  their  flrength  ;  and  whofe  numb^er  might  be  doubled 
after  a  time  by  productive  marriages  ;  for  children  arc 
to  lione  more  a  real  bleifing,  than  to  the  laborer.  He 
left  therefore  his  brother  at  Wcrmctfwcii,  with  one 
par:  of  the  family,  to  coHtinae^  ihe  management  of  their 
paternal  property  upon  the  plan  which  he  had  laid 
down  ;  and  with  the  other  part,  he  proceeded  to  take 
poflellion  of  the  farm  wirh  a  manly  courage  and  with  a 
tirni  confidence  in  the  divine  alliflance.  The  fir fl  time 
ihat  his  fons  aHiiled  him  in  ploughing  the  new  lands, 
they  were  tranfportcd  v/ith  plcafure  at  feeing  the  length 
of  their  farrows  ;  for  all  the  fields  at  their  former  home 
were  in  fmali  divifions,  according  to  the  very  perni- 
cious practice  generally  feen  in  our  countries,  "iliey 
■  ■   '    -'     "  '  '  even 


THE    RURAr  SOCRATE: 


125! 


even  fhouted  with  joy  in  following  the  plough  ;  and 
this  noify  gaiety  feemed  to  influence  and  to  gi/e  new 
flrength  to  the  cattle  who  drew  it  along. 

The  queflion  that  was  next  to  be  dircufled,  %vas  where 
to  begin  the  improvements  ;  the  whole  of  the  farm  be- 
ing  in  a  flate  of  ruin.  The  meadows  gave>  very  lltt]« 
grais  and  of  bad  quality;  the  greater  part  being  cover- 
ed  with  water,***  and  the  rell  exhaulicd  for  want  of 
manure.  The  fields  were  poor- ;  and,  as  vyehave  Cccn^ 
in  many  places  marfhy.  The  vineyard  looked  like  fal- 
low land  ;  and  the  hedges  had  encroached  fo  much  up- 
on it,  that  one  of  the  befl  portions  of  it  was  rendered 
ufeiefs.  There  was  very  little  dung  ;  and  no  provifioa 
for  liquid  manure,  the  former  refer  voir  s  for' making  it 
beicg  few  and  decayed.  The  little  grain  which  was 
growing,  promifed  but  a  fhiall  quantity  of  draw  ;  and 
kliyogg  had  no  firs  or  pines  to  furnill)  him  with  a  fub- 
ftitute,  as  a  compofh  for  drefling  his  lands.— This  flate 
of  things  had  much  lelTened  the  firft  effervefcence  of  joy 
felt  by  his  family,  and  there  was  much  danger  of  dii- 
couragem.ent  fucceeding.  Kliyogg  alone  refifled  the 
impreflion,  reckoning  more  than  ever  upon  his  adivity 
and  the  aid  of  Providence. 

He  began  with  his  arable  lands ;  and  looked  around 
him  for  the  means  of  fupplying  himfelfwith  ^nanure,-^ 
The  fiill  refource  wiiich  offered  itfelftohis  penetrat- 
ing eye,  was  thejupcrfluity  of  the  hedges^  which  had  run 
wild  ;  and  from  which  he  pruned  or  rooted  out  what- 
ever was  ufclels  ;  and  then,  burning  it  upon  the  fpot^ 
made  an  excellent  manure  of  the  afhes.  He  thus  re* 
gained  fome  of  his  bed  foil  ;  and,  as  time  had  produced 
an  excellent  mould  on  the  i'pot,  he  fpread  a  confidera- 
blc  part  of  this  mould  upon  his  fields.  The  waters  at 
the  lame  time  finding  a  freer  paflage  through  his  hedg- 
es, were  drained  from  his  arable  lands,  and  inilead  of 
itfpreadupon  his  m.eadows. — ^liis  t/'/^o^j  offered  him  a 
fecond  fource  for  manure,  as  he  took  from  tliem  all 
their  ufclefs  hiiJJics  and  brawbles^  which  be  reduced  to 

adies. 


126  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

afhcs,  which  enabled  him  afterwards  to  arrive  at  more 
mould,  formed  by  the  fuccellion  of  dead  leaves. —  By 
thefe  methods  he  lupplied  in  his  firft  year  the  w^ant  of 
manure  from  his  liables,  which  he  neverthelefs  fought 
to  augment  by  all  poiiiblc  means  ;  having  for  that  pur- 
pofe  carefully  repaired  the  old  refervoirs  deflined  for 
preparing  liquid  rr^anurc,  and  formed  new  ones  ;  in 
v/hich  he  was  aflifled  by  the  generofity  of  the  republic. 

After  having  provided  for  manure,  his  next  care  was 
to  amend  the  nature  cfhis  J  oil.  By  a  very  deep  ditch 
therefore,  carried  through  the  middle  of  his  fields,  he 
received  the  water  obtained  through  a  number  of  fmall 
covered  drains,  from  the  marlliy  fpots  contained  iti 
thefe  fields  ;  and  then  by  larger  acjuedu^ls  which  were 
led  acrofs  his  lower  fields,  whofe  waters  were  drained 
in  like  manner  into  the  aqueduds,  he  conveyed  the 
whole  body  of  water  into  his  meadows  ;  his  mea- 
dows being  thus  fertilized  with  water  very  proper  for 
the  purpofe.  In  confequence  of  thefe  mcafures,  his 
fields  by  degrees  became  entirely  dry ;  and  places  hither- 
to the  mofl  incapable  of  culture,  became  as  fufceptible  of 
it  as  any  of  thereih  The  enormous  quantity  of  thefe  cuts 
was  of  a  nature  to  flartle  every  one  ;  cfpecially  when  the 
fiiort  period  and  few  hands  employed  in  effecting  them 
wer^  coniidered. — Atjihe  fame  time  he  had  recourfe  to 
his  former  pradice  of  mixing  foils  of  a  different  nature. 
He  had  difcovered  in  the  piece  of  ground  oppoflte  to  his 
houfe  a  little  mount  of  gravel,  which  he  undertook  to 
remove,  by  fpreading  it  upon  the  lower  part  of  the  field 
containing  it,  which  confifled  of  a  heavy  clay  ;  and  laft 
year  he  difcovered  the  land  mixed  with  mica  (or  talk,) 
of  which  we  have  already  fpoken  ;  and  which  is  a  real 
treafurc  to  him,  fince  it  has  improved  the  adjoining 
field,  ^o  as  to  make  it  yield  an  equal  produce  with  thofe 
which  were  the  bed  manured. 

By  thefe  different  methods,  Kliyogg  has  fucceeded  in. 
the  courfe  of  four  years  in  doubling  his  crops   of  grain, 
fa  1769,  he  reaped  4000  (heaves  ;  and  in  1773,  he  reap- 
ed 


'fHE   RURAL  S0CR/\TE3.  127 

sd  8000  ;  though  in  general  the  latter  year  was  lefs  fa- 
vorable. This  crop  was  fufficient  to  enable  him  to  fell 
one  hundred  muids,  after  paying  his  tythes  and  other 
taxes,  and  providing  for  the  fubfiflence  of  his  family.— 
His  llables  are  well  furnifhed  alfo  with  cattle  ;  for 
while  liis  predecefTors  had  only  eight  horfes  and  four 
head  of  horned  cattle  ;  he  has  five  horfes  and  twenty- 
two  head  of  horned  cattle  ;  and  he  propofcs  augment- 
ing the  number,  fince  he  fees  a  variety  of  improvement!  ^ 
ftill  to  be  accomplifhed. 

His  abundant  harvefts  produced  by  his  improvements^ 
naturally  furnifhed  a  ftill  farther  means  of  augmenting 
them,  by  an  increafe  in  his  quantity  of  flraw,  fo  pre- 
cious for  his  dung-heap  ;  his  crops  and  his  dung-heaps 
thus  mutually  increafing ;  each  of  them  powerfully  resiEV- 
ing  upon  the  other*  This  fuecefs,  the  reward  of  zeal  the 
moft  active  and  intelligent,  charmed  the  republic  of 
which  he  was  the  tenant  ;  and  the  governm.ent  in  con- 
iequence  favored  him  in  his  plan  for  eretSling  new  acd 
large  refer voirs,  wherein  to  prepare  his  liquid  ma- 
nure. 

The  attention  bf  Kliyogg  to  his  fields  did  not  pre- 
vent his  giving  attention  to  his  meadows;  which  in  like 
manner  he  endeavored  as  much  as  poffible  to  improve, 
in  order  to  be  able  gradually  to  increafe  the  number  of 
his  live  flock. — -Thcle  meadows  were  of  two  kinds  ; 
the  dry^  which  could  only  be  aided  by  tlie  manure  from 
bis  cattle,  efpecially  in  the  form  cf  liquid  manure  ',  and 
the  moi/Iy  which  were  by  much  the  moft  numerous,  and 
^hich  he  defigned  to  affift  by  managing  the  water  with 
judgment. — For  this  latter  purpofe,  he  began  by  dig- 
ging drain-sto  carry  away  the  flagnant  water  ;  and,  aa 
he  obferved  that  the  river,  though  it  fiowly  wandered 
along  his  meadows,  had  ftill  fall  enough  to  allow  hint 
to  take  up  its  water  where  it  entered  his  grounds,  ht' 
profited  by  the  circumftance  to  make  regular  cuts  from 
it ;  though  the  water  was  not  proper  for  producing  grafs 

of 


i-S  THE  PtURAL  SOCRATES. 

pf  the  bell  quality''^. — He  is  nowetnploycd  in  eonflruct- 
ing  the  trenches  in  his  cow-hcufe,  which  are  fo  urcfu! 
for  multiplying  the  quantity  of  liquid  manure  ;  a  con- 
trivance freqnenc  in  the  neighborhood  oFour  city,  and 
which  turns  to  great  account,  efpecially  for  field-vege- 
tables.  He  forms  all  along  behind  his  cattle  a  trough, 
afoot  or  a  foot  and  an  half  in  iis  width  and  in  its 
depth,  lined  and  covered  with  planlis  ;  the  trough  hav- 
ing its  ilTue  without  doors.  Thus  placed,  it  receives 
the  urine  and  dung  of  his  cattle  ;  and  being  always 
kept  half  full  of  water,  it  forms  a  thick  mixture  ;  and 
ferves  as  a  ferment,  Vv'ith  which  a  very  great  quantity 
of  water  may  in  a  very  fhort  time  bfe  converted  into  li- 
quid manure.  One  portion  of  this  ferment  being  mix- 
ed \w\Xi\  jevenpOii\Q\\%  of  the  freihefl  fpring- water,  foon 
makes  the  whole  become  corrupt  ;  eipecially  if  the  re- 
lervoir  in  v«;hich  the  mixture  is  made,  is  of  wood  and 
placed  in  a  warm  fituation  ;  or  if  an  artificial  heat  is 
fnbflituted,  in  cafe  a  natural  heat  is  wanting.  By  means 
of  this  fermentation,  an  excellent  ma?mre  is  produced  j 
which  proves  the  befl  ailiflant  which  can  be  given  to 
fuch  meadow  and  arable  lands  as  are  naturally  dry. 

The  gypfum  [or  coarfe-  alabafler}  of  which  Kliyogg 
has  lately  begun  rom.ake  ufe,  iupplieshis  induflry  with 
a  new  means  of  augmenting  his  forage.  Our  country 
owes  the  knowledge  of  this  important  ufe  of  the  gypfum 
to  the  difcoverics  of  Mr.  Meyer,-pa(lor  of  Kiipferzellt  5 

who 

*  The  niot3r;.-tainaus  firurtare  of  Sw-itzeiiaad  makes  It  abound  wiih 
fprings  and  Ilreams,  mnnyrf  which  are  fuiTicienily  elevated  to  be  condtid^ 
(fi/wulicarc  over  the  foil  ;  and  water  wheels  turned  by  the  lireams  may  of- 
ten {ervc  to  wi»t«:r  them  in  oijier  c&fes,  and  are  fometifoes  fo  employed.  E. 

f  This  refpcf^iable  c'ergyman,  eager  to  puMilh  his  important  difcovery, 
has  given  a  very  detailed  accounr  it  the  msionef  of  ufing  the  gypfum.  He 
fpreads  the  gypfum  in  its  natural  ftate,  but  reduced  to  powder,  upon  mcad- 
0';vs  containing  both  the  common  and  artificial  graffes  ;  2s  ylfa  upon  land 
fovi^n  with  peafc,  vctcheF,  lentils,  oats,  rye,  or  lobacco.  But  its  moft  fur- 
jnifing  efFtfdl  is  upon  clover  ;  and  this,  in  foils  the  moft  dry  and  arid.  It 
does  not  fait  niarfhy  places,  where  it  iiuks  too  deep,  its  a^vity  on!y  feew- 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  12^ 

v/ho  has  herein  rendered  agriculture  the  raofl  eiTential 
fcrvice. 

It  is  by  this  fort  of  means,  then,  that  our  fkilful  culti- 
vator is  enabled  annually  to  increafe  his  number  of  cat- 
tle, and  confequcntly  his  manure  ;  which  promifcs  him 
in  future  a  circle  of  fertility  and  blelling  always  enlarg- 
ing itfelf.  He  gradually  applies  cattle  of  his  own  breed- 
ing for  this  purpofe,  which  yields  him  a  confiderable 
profit  ;  as  he  is  able  to  fell  every  year  a  certain  number 
of  fat  oxen. 

Thus  our  Kliyogg  remains  true  to  his  principles  and 
thus  thefe  principles  are  always  juftified  by  a  compleat 
fuccefs.  I  have  never  fcen  io  happy  an  ifTae  fo  flriking- 
]y  refulting  from  a  judicious  plan,  as  in  the  cafe  of  our 
wife  cultivator.  All 


ing  to  exert  icfelf  on  the  furface. — Mr.  Muller  limits  the  quznticj'  of 
gypfum  to  be  fpread  upon  a  rasafure  of  land  [journal,  joorneaux]  of  i8c< 
perches  freckoiiirg  the  perch  at  12  f^er  of  the  Rhine,)  to  8  iirnri  ;  of 
which  each  contains  16  pots.  A  larger  quantity  would  become  rather 
hurtful,  than  falutary. — The  greateft  care  muft  be  taken  to  fpread  this 
powder  befors  tlie  grafs  or  grain  begins  to  (hoot.  Upon  meadows  there- 
fore, it  rauil  be  fpread  at  the  melting  of  the  fnow  ;  that  hj  at  the  end  of 
February  or  beginning  of  March  ;  and  upon  fields  of  grain  as  fobn  a-s  thefs 
are  fown. — A  laborer  having  ignorr-nily  ihrown  ic  upon  his  meadows  after 
thefhooring  of  the  grafs,  loft  four  of  his  oxen;  a  gypfc:oa8Correftion,which 
obftruf^ed  digeftiort,  being  found  in  their  inteftines. — I:  muft  be  beaten  io. 
the  firlt  inftance  in  a  great  trough,  with  iron  hammers,  into  pieces  not  ex- 
ceeding the  fize  of  9n  egg.  It  ij  then  reduced  to  powder  in  the  fa  me 
manner  that  apples  are  prtfled  to  make  cyder,  and  by  the  very  fame 
pppararus.  It  ia  no!  rpqoi(iie  that  the  powder  {hould  be  made  very  fine  j 
f.ieces  of  gypfum  of  the  Ciii  of  a  pea  o:  bean  being  quickly  difTulvedp 
when  fpread  on  the  ground, ' 

Such  is  the  fubftance  of  the  mpmcir  of  Mr,  Meyer. — The  Abbe  Ro- 
zler  hag  placed  another  nnemoir  on  this  fubjes^  in  his  Journal  deFhyJiqm 
{u  IV,  July.)  This  lad  tueraoir  confirms  that  of  this  clergyman  of  Kiip- 
icrrell.     F. 

This  manure  Is  no  where  perhaps  better  known  at  prefent,  thao  in  foroe 
of  the  United  States  ;  as  will  be  found  on  confulting  what  has  been  faid 
by  Judge  Peters,  Mr.  Robert  Morris,  Dr.  Mitchill,  Mr,  B^rdley,  ani 
others,  OQ  the  fubjeu^,   E» 

R 


I  JO  THE   RUPvAL  SOCRATES. 

All  the  children  of  Kliyogg  as  well  as  thofe  of  hh 
brother,  have  turned  out  well. — They  are  all  healthy, 
robuft  and  laborious; all  intelligentjand  virtuous.  Their 
occupations  have  to  all,  without  exception,  become  real 
pleafures  ;  for  labor  in  this  family  is  acceptable  merely 
as  labor  ;  the  only  queftion  being  v/ho  (hall  lurpnTs  the 
other  ;  and  they  know  no  other  jealoufy  than,  the  lauda- 
ble emulation  of  excelling  in  their  undertakings,  wheth- 
er the  obje^Tt  confiils  in  dire£ting  or  in  executing.  The 
tendency  to  luxury  and  fenfuality,  fo  common  elfe- 
where,  is  here  confined  within  its  jafl  bounds. — Even 
the  fervants  employed  under  them  acquire  an  increafing 
attachment  to  their  work  ;  in  which  never; helefs  they 
all  agree,  that  they  arc  furpalTed  by  their  mader  and  his 
children. — There  is  alfo  a  beautiful  order  always  pre- 
vailing in  this  happy  family.  The  Sunday  is  employed 
in  reading  the  bible  and  in  finging  hymns  ;  and  in  dei^- 
canting  upon  the  blellings  of  the  hulbandman,  and  the 
inward  peace  and  content  following  upon  the  certainty 
of  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  labor.  They  know  the 
ronfidence  with  which  each  may  fay  tohimfelf — ''  This 
*'  is  what  God  has  given  me  in  recompenfe  for  my  ex- 
'*'  erlions  :  Nothing  here  has  cofl  the  fmallefl  figh  to 
''  any  of  my  fellow  creatures  :  I  have  never  taken  ad- 
*'  vantage  of  tlie  want  of  information  in  any  perfon  : 
■"  My  fatisfat^ion  is  therefore  built  in  no  refpeifl  upon 
**  the  fufferings  of  others." 

When  the  occafion  offers  for  fpeaking  of  luxury  and 
the  ordinai-y  diverfions  of  the  young  people  of  the  vil- 
lage, w^ho  are  fcarcely  acquainted  with  any  thing  elfe 
befides  the  tavern  ;  Kliyogg  fliews  to  his  children  how 
ienfelefs  are  fuch  amufements.^  He  gives  a  crowd  of 
examples  within  his  own  obfervation,  of  perfons  whom 
this  bad  habit  has  by  degrees  turned  from  their  occupa- 
tions ;  from  whence  have  arifen  family  derangements, 
which  he  has  detailed,  befides  a  multiplicity  of  debts ; 
followed  by  the  moft  cruel  anxieties,  and  by  over- reach- 
ing and  bad  faith,  as  the  only  means  left  for  ]>rocuring 

fubiidence  ; 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  131 

{"libfiftence  ;  and  in  fliort,  by  the  ruin  both  of  body  and 
of  mind.  Herepreienls  on  the  other  hand,  how  their  own 
iiabits  of  labor  render  thcni  happy  j  and  how  precious 
;3  a  quiet  conrcience.—-Far  from  mixing  anything  dif- 
agreeable  in  his  inftrnctions,  he  accompanies  the  whole 
v/ith  an  amiable  gaiety ;  which  wins  every  one  who  hears 
him  ;  and  convinces  them,  that  he  fpeaks  of  the  happi- 
nefs  of  a  virtuous  hufbaiKiman  from  his  own  experi- 
ence. 

On  the  working  days  of  this  happy  family,  Kliyogg 
puts  himfelf  at  their  head  to  go  into  the  fields  at  day- 
break, after  having  prayed  ;  for  they  always  coaimencc 
the  day  with  this  pious  exercife  ;  though  they  are  not 
conih  ained  to  it,  any  more  than  to  their  work  ;  Kli* 
yogg  maintaining  that  no  ad  ought  to  be  more  voh.inta- 
ry  than  that  of  prayer.  "  When  we  know  God,  he 
*'  fays,  we  cannot  help  loving  him  ;  and  when  we  love 
''  him  and  regard  him  as  the  fource  of  every  good,  we 
*'  ought  to  feel  a  high  fatisfaclion  in  occupying  our- 
''  felves  with  the  idea  of  him,  and  in  fpeaking  to  him, 
^'  and  in  imploring  his  benedictions  ;  but  not  thofeben- 
^^  ediflions  which  leave  nothing  on  our  fide  to  be  done, 
"  Whoever  (iie  affirms)  prays  with  fuch  views,  knovvS 
•  not  the  Supreme  Being  ;  whofc  defign  it  is,  that  we 
'^  fliould  gain  our  bread  v;ith  the  fweat  of  our  brov/  ; 
''  and  who  confequently  renders  the  -earth  fertile  only 
^'  in  proportion  to  thepains  we  take  in  cultivating  it." — 
When  they  are  come  to  the  place  Vv'here  they  are  to 
work,  every  one  applies  himfelf  to  his  part  without  in- 
terruption, till  the  hours  fixed  for  refting  themfelves  j 
when  they  are  refreQied  with  wholefome  food.  Noth- 
ing is  fpared  upon  this  occafion  ;  every  one  from  the 
mafler  to  the  loweft  fervant,  eating  according  to  his  ap- 
petite ;  for  it  is  a  rnaxim  with  Kliyogg,  that  the  food  of 
the  man  who  works,  mufl:  not  be  weighed.  At  the  end 
of  their  concluding  repafl,  every  one  yields  to  a  reflor- 
ing  and  tranquil  fleep  ;  fuch  as  never  is  vi^anting  when 
the  body  is  fatigued,  and  the  mind   unopprefTed  with 

rorroding 


132  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

corroding  cares  and  gloomy  difcontent. — I  have  lately 
learned  thefe  h^s  refped:ing  the  admirable  order  ob- 
fervcd  in  this  family,  from  a  youth  whom  Kliyogghad 
taken  into  it  at  my  recommendation  ;  andy^ou  may  judge 
that  I  did  not  hear  it  without  being  moved. 

To  this  interior  profperity  is  joined  that  of  the  exte- 
rior. The  barns  and  granaries  of  Kliyogg  are  full,  his 
cellar  flored  v^^ith  wine  of  his  own  growth,  and  his  fla- 
bles  provided  with  flrong  and  healthy  cattle  of  his  own 
raifing.  His  rent  is  always  paid  on  the  day  when  it  is 
due  ;  and  his  houfaold  is  furnidied  with  every  necefTa- 
ry  ;  and  he  is  able  every  year,  as  we  have  feen,  to  fell 
grain,  wine,  and  cattle;  and  to  incrcafe  his  property. 
Ko,  1  repeat  ;  never  did  the  bieffing  which  follows  up-^ 
on  induflry  and  good  morals,  offer  itfelf  tomy  eyes  in  a 
manner  fo  palpable  ;  and  I  do  not  fear  to  conclude,  that 
Providence  has  deiigned  that  this  fa-mily  (hould  becomvC 
one  of  the  mod  marked  examples.;,  to  encourage  man- 
kind. 

In  propartlon  as  Kliyogg  increafes  the  profperity  of 
bis  family,  he  acquires  frefh  perfonal  confideration. 
His  ior\i  may  choole  the  richefl  young  women  in  the 
neighboring  country  ;  although  he  is  more  and  more 
firm  in  his  principle,  to  keep  all  his  children  and  grand- 
children united  in  one  family  ;  having  found  by  his  own 
experience,  how  many  things  may  thus  be  done,  v,^hen 
ieconded  by  indullry.  He  has  refufed  in  confcquence 
themofl  advantageous  offers,  if  implying  the  feparation 
of  either  of  his  fons  from  the  fam/ily  ;  and  in  this, his  fons 
haveperfeclly  joined  him  in  opinion  ;  no  fortune  being 
able  to  induce  them  to  quit  a  father,  whofe  care  in  edu- 
cating them  has  fo  vifibly  profpered.  It  fcems  as  if 
Providence  deiigned  to  recompenfe  them  for  continu- 
ing in  fuch  difpofitions  ;  his  fecond  fon  having  juft  mar- 
ried one  of  the  richell  young  women  of  the  neighbor- 
kocd,  who  has  adopted  with  joy  the  manner  of  thinking 
''■■■■  jivo 


r 

THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  133 

and  ading  of  the  family  ;  however  different  in  many 
refpecls  from  thofe  to  which  fhe  has  been  accuflomed  irX 
the  family  which  (he  has  quitted. 

I  cannot  here  refrain  from  a  defcription  of  this  wed- 
ding, at  which  I  did  not  fail  to  affid:.  The  conRant  de- 
fire  which  I  have  to  witnefs  the  feelings  of  Kliyogg 
in  all  the  important  conjun£i:ures  of  his  life,  joined  to 
the  beauty  of  thefeafon,  for  it  was  in  the  month  of  May 
laft  ;  determined  me  to  furprife  my  country  friend.*'*^ 
But  what  was  my  own  furprife  in  meeting  Kliyogg  alone 
on  the  road  to  Zurich.  Notwithftanding  the  folemnity 
of  the  day  and  though  his  fon  was  married  in  the  city, 
he  was  now  in  the  purfuit  of  bufinefs  ;  that  of  purcha- 
fing  a  beafl  at  the  fair.  He  v/as  in  his  ordinary  drefs, 
with  that  open  air  which  is  peculiar  to  him.*''^*.  When 
he  v/as  informed  of  my  intentions,  he  vvifhed  to  return 
with  me  to  his  houfc  3  but  I  refifted  and  obliged  him  to 
purfae  his  journey.  '^^'^  Having  reached  the  farm  of 
my  friend,  I  found  every  thing  in  compleat  tranquillity  ; 
every  one  being  at  his  ufual  work. 

The  brother  of  Kliyogg  had  jufl  arrived  from  the 
family-property,  to  take  part  in  the  family-joy.  Art-- 
Icfi  goodnefs,  with  franknefs  and  kindnefs,  form  the 
chiradler  of  this  man  ;  and  are  forcibly  imprinted  upon 
his  countenance.--— I  expreffed  to  him  the  (hare  I  took  in 
the  happinefs  of  his  fiimily, — hSltv  thanking  me  with 
confiderable  cordiality,  he  related  with  a  tone  of  great 
ienfibility,  how  he  himfelf  had  been  bleiTed  by  Provi- 
dence, for  having  followed  the  counfels  of  his  brother  ^ 
how  well  all  his  children  had  turned  out  ;  and  that  they 
confLantly  afiiiied  him  in  his  works  at  Wermetchv/eii, 
which  continued  upon  the  fame  footing  as  when  the  two 
families  were  united.  He,  in  particular,  fpoke  in  high 
commendation  of  his  daughter  ;  faying  that  in  working, 
ilie  had  not  her  fellow  in  the  country.  To  give  me  a 
proof  of  the  increafe  of  his  circumdances,  he  told  me 
that  he  had  found  himfelf  in  a  condlticn  to  equip  his  for| 

as ' 


t  '5  * 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 


as  a  dragoon  in  the  militia  ;  not  without  much  expencd 
however  ;  though  ftill  without  injuring  himfclf. — He 
jiow  took  me  out  upon  the  nev/  farm  of  his  lia'other,  to 
Ihew  me  all  his  improvements,  made  or  projedled. 

When  we  returned  from  our  excurfion,  we  found  the 
/bn-in  laz'j  oi'KWyogg  ;  wlio  to  my  great  adonifhment, 
appeared  to  fliew  Tome  coolnefs  in  his  manner  of  receiv- 
ing the  compliment  which  I  addrefTed  to  him  upon  the 
ceremony  ot  the  day. — *'  How  happens  it,  (faid  I)  that 
^''  upon  a  day  v/hen  Providence  fo  manifeilly  fiiev^sits 
*'  favor  to  the  family,  that  you  appear  {o  little  fcnfible 
'^  of  it  ?" — f^I  am  perfeftly  impreiled  as  I  ought  to  be, 
^'  (faid  he,)  in  that  refpeft  ;  but  our  father  on  his  fide, 
*•'  ought  not  to  be  fo  fingularas  he  is/'-—'*  How  is  that, 
^' (I  anfwered^  flill  more  adonifned  ;)  for  your  father 
*'  was  vei-y  gay  when  I  met  him  r" — ''  Of  that  there  is 
^' no  doubt;  but  it  is  always  in  his  own  way,  from 
'^  which  he  will  never  in  the  lead  depart.  He  would 
'  not  be  drefTed  to  day  differently  from  his  mode  on 
other  days  5  he  infifled  on  all  the  family  working  as 
in  common,  till  noon  ;  and  if  we  had  confented  to  his 
own  method  In  everything,  we  fliouid  have  been  the 
'-  laughing-flock  of  the  neighborhood.  The  bride- 
^^  groom  forfooth,  alone  and  without  attendants,  mufl 
*'  conduct  the  bride  to  town  to  be  married  ;  and  they 
'^^  mud  even  go  on  foot,  though  we  had  two  hor- 
.^'  fes  in  the  dable.  All  decorum  upon  this  occafion 
^^  he  treated  as  a  folly,  wiiich  called  others  from 
^'  their  work  and  ,gave  them  a  lelTon  of  idlencfs  ; 
'^  adding,  that  when  peafants  kept  horfes,  it  was  for 
"'  woik,  and  not  to  indulge  Inch  idlenefs.  •  We  could 
'^^  fcarcely  even  periuadc  him  to  let  his  fons  put  on  the 
^'  new  clothes  which  they  at  this  moment  wear.  And  fo 
*^'  occupied  is  he  with  his  idea  of  working,that  he  laughs  at 
^'  all  the  amuicments,  in  which  one  is  fometimesinclined 
''  to  indulge  onefelf." — '^  My  dear  Hans,  (I  anfwcred,) 
^'  you  iill  mc  with  an  adonifhment,  from  which  I  can- 
'■  ■■  jiot  recover  myfelf.  Have  you  not  more  than  once 
•         ■  '  '  tedifed' 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  13 j 

tcflified  to  mc  yoar  happinefs  at  having  entered  a 
family,  where  abundance  reigns,  and  along  with  it, 
joy  and  quiet  ;  which,  at  the  lame  time  you  allowed, 
was  the  rcfult  of  the  great  order  eftabliftied  in  thi^ 
family,  and  of  the  conllant  zeal  (hewn  in  it  for  work.'^ 
— I  confefs  it,  (he  replied,)  but  one  mull  take  care 
not  to  become  the  ridicule  of  one's  neighbors  j  and  the 
wedding  day  of  a  Ton  is  a  proper  time  to  (hew  one's- 
felf,  and  to  indulge  in  fome  expence^  efpeciaily  if  one 
has  the  means." — ''  True  ;  but  if  we  judge  by  com- 
mon opinion,  a  holiday  and  the  day  of  a  fair  or  of  n 
village  feaft,  are  alfo  privileged  days,  which  admit  of 
more  expence  and  amufsment  than  other  days  :'■*— 
But  not  fo  much  (he  replied)  as  a  wedding  day/^ — 
There  are  few  people  however,  (faid  I,)  who  m.ake 
this  difference  ;  and  the  zeal  with  which  your  father 
always  prevented  his  children  from  participating  1:2 
the  diforders  of  the  more  ordinary  holidays,  ones 
Teemed  as  ridiculous,  as  his  prefent  feverity  in  re- 
trenching whatever  feems  to  him  ufelefs  in  the  pref- 
ent wedding.  Yet  it  is  to  this  fame  zeal  which  is  fo 
much  cenfured,  that  you  in  a  great  meafure  owe  the 
profperity  which  you  enjoy.''' — ^*  Certainly  (here  ex- 
claimed the  honeft:  Felix,  the  brother  of  Kliyogg,  witii. 
a  deep  figh)  our  people  revolted,  like  you,  at  the  fin- 
guiarities  of  my  brother  ;  and  even  attempted  to 
make  me  go  myfelf  into  debauch  ;  bur  hov/  often  do 
I  not  blefs  God,  that  I  refifted  them,  and  yielded  to 
my  brother.  Do  we  not  fee  the  favor  of  Providence 
attending  us  on  ail  fides?'' — '' I  grant,  (returned 
Hans)  that  this  was  perfectly  right,  when  you  were 
poor,  and  your  children  not  of  an  age  to  help  you  ; 
but,  at  prefent,  when  our  means  are  increafed,  thefe 
things  ought  not  to  be  lb  narrov/ly  attended  to." — 
But  do  you  want  any  thing  (I  faid  :)  are  not  you  well 
fed  and  well  clothed  :  and  are  you  not  befides  healthy 
and  merry  r" — '^  This  is  all  very  true  (v/as  the  ani- 
wer  0  but  it  Ao^-^  not  prevent  our  being  fneered  at, 

'^  when 


S36  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

'f  when  we  do  not  liv^  like  all  the  reft  of  the  world.''— 
*^  Bat  v/ho  are  theie  fneerers  ?" — "  All  our  neighbors! 
''  who  never  ceafe  to  obferve,  that  we  are  very  fingu- 
*'  lar  people." — V*  But  fay  (in  return)  is  it  not  very 
''  honorable  for  your  father,  that  he  has  a  free  accefs  to 
'^  perfons  at  the  head  of  the  republic  ;  that  he  receives 
"  vlfus  from  perfons  of  all  ranks,  who  think  it  an  hopor 
*'  to  know  him  ;  that  Rrangers  from  all  countries  often 
*'  come  tojiim;  that  even  princes  treat  him  as  their 
*'  friend  ;  and  that  his  fons  can  have  the  bell  matches 
*'  in  the  country  ?  What  peafant  was  ever  honored  like 
*'  your  father :  Yet  it  is  from  thefc  very  fingularities,  of 
*'  which  you  complain,  from  his  unalterable  afliduity  in 
'-'  his  labor,  and  from  his  care  to  inculcate  the  like  ar- 
^''  dor  in  his  children  in  their  early  youth,  in  order  to 
^'  preferve  them  from  the  diforder  which  is  feen  reign- 
*-'  ing  every  where  elfe  ;  that  all  thefe  marks  o»r  diflinc- 
"  tion  ariic,  and  that  his  family  fo  eminently  profpers. 
*-'  Without  thefe  qualities,  he  v/ould  have  remained  a 
"'  poor  peafant,  confounded  in  the  crowd  ;  and  God 
'^  knows  v/hat  would  have  been  the  lot  of  iiis  children  : 
^'  they  would  probably  have  been  diiperfed,  and  "forced 
*-'  to  feek  their  bread  among  ilrangers.'^ — "  There  is 
^"^  no  difputing  this  ;  but  IbJl  things  may  be  puflied  too 
"  far.'' — ''  Butpray,  (my  dear  Hans)  when  you  delcend 
^^  a  fleep  hill  v»^ith  your  waggon,  why  do  you  put  a  drag 
^'  to  your  wheels  V' — i^  Certainly  that  the  waggon, pref- 
"'  fed  on  by  its  weight,-  may  not  rufli  with  violence,  and 
■•'  crufti  the  cattle  which  are  yoked  to  it."  >'  And  why 
^^  do  you  put  a  clog  on  the  feet  of  your  colt,  inftead  of 
^'  leaving  him  entirely  at  liberty  :''-—''•  That  he  may 
*'  not  hurt  himfelf  in  his  ramblings  and  may  learn  a 
'^  fleady  pace." — And  yet,  my  friend,  you  are  angry 
^^  with  your  father,  becaufe  he  puts  a  drag  upon  you; 
"^  and  prevents  you  from  being  hurried  on  by  bad  ex- 
^'  ample.s  towards  the  luxury,  debauch  and  idlenefs, 
'''  which  may  drive  you  into  perdition.  Alas,  my  poor 
^^  HanSj  let  your   father  proceed  :  the  manners  of  our 

*^  days 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  23^ 

^^  days  arc  fo  feducing^that  all  which  he  can  do,  will  not 
^'  prevent  your  yielding  to  them  a  little.  You  may 
"  thank  God  therefore,  that  he  holds  a  tight  rein  to 
*'  hinder  you  from  falling/' — *^  Well,  I  agree  (faid 
*^  Hans,)  that  I  am  wrong  in  this  particular;  but  he  at 
"  leafh  ought  to  count  us  for  fomething,  when  thequef- 
''  tion  is  how  to  diflribute  our  work;  for  he  will  al- 
*•  ways  go  on  in  his  own  way,  I  have  now  for  a  long 
''  time  defired  that  the  cow-houfe  might  be  properly 
^'  arranged,  to  enable  us  to  make  liquid  manure,  which 
**  is  fo  proper  for  our  meadow  land  ;  but  he  will  never 
"  yield  to  me  ;  and  our  whole  attention  has  been 
^^  given  to  the  carrying  oiFfand  and  gravel  to  improve 
"  our  arable  land." — '^  But  have  your  meadows  been 
^'  negle^fted  ?''— I  do  not  fay  that  they  have  ;  but  our 
''  improvements  might  as  well  firfc  have  been  there." — 
''*  Agreed  ;  but  would  you  recommend  one  to  under- 
''  take  one  thing,  and  another  to  undertake  another." — = 
*^  That  is  not  a  point  which  I  can  maintain  ;  for  an  union 
"  of  forces  is  what  is  mofj:  eifential  to  work,  if  we  wifb 
*'  things  to  go  well ;  iince  as  foon  as  th^fc  forces  bc- 
^^  come  feparatcd,  for  different  objects,  nothing  great  is 
"  any  where  done." — ''  Thus  then,  according  to  your 
''•  own  opinion,  it  is  nece(fary  when  opinions  differ,  that 
^^  one  fliould  take  the  lead  ;  and  in  this  cafe,  ought  than 
''  of  the  father  or  the  children  to  be  preferred  f"— 
Hans  had  too  good  a  heart  to  anfwer  me  any  otherw*ife.. 
than  by  the  blufhes  which  covered  his  countenance.  He 
now  fought  only  to  excufe himfclf  *  urging  that  ''a  will- 
**  ing  and  active  workman  could  not  be  blamed,  if  he 
**  fometimes  pretended  to  give  his  opinion  upon  the 
*'  manner  in  which  his  work  fhoald  be  condu'^ed."— 
This  I  alTared  him  wouid  never  be  taken  ill  by 
his  father-in-law  ;  but  that  we  fathers  were  ofter 
obliged-to  appear  outwardly  more  fevere  towards  our 
children,  than  we  really  were  ;  and  that  he  would  foon 
have  to  make  the  proof  in  the  cafe  cf  children  of  hii 
own-  f 


138  THE   RUllAL  SOCRATES. 

I  now  defircd  Hans  to  let  me  Tee  their  cattle,  and  tc^ 
carry  me  into  the  parts  of  the  farm  which  we  had  not  be- 
fore inrpe(n:€d. — The  parts  which  had  been  improved 
after  his  own  hints,  were  ihofe  which  he  fiiewed  me  by 
preference.  The  good  fcnfe  of  his  obfervations,  and  the 
content  which  gliflened  in  his  eyes  whenever  he  could 
fliew  me  proofs  of  his  ability  ;  confirmed  me  in  my  per- 
fuafion  that  he  was  a  Ton- in- law  worthy  of  Kliyogg  ; 
although  little  pallions  and  certain  prejudices,  too  deep- 
ly rooted  in  him, led  him  at  times  to  revolt  againfl  max- 
ims divftated  by  reaibn. 

Kliyogg  at  lair  returned  home. — I  afked-  him  fmiHng, 
^^  How  he  came  to  be  fo  avaritious,  as  to  make  his  peo- 
*'  pie  work  thus  upon  a  wedding-day  ;  and  why  he  did 
**  not  appear  in  a  new  coat,  made  after  the  manner  in 
'' ufe  among  country  people  at  their  eafe  ;" — *'  All 
^'  thc^e  follies,  (he  anfv/ered  with  a  fmiie,)  have  given 
^'  much  thread  to  be  tv/ifted  over  again.  They  are  al- 
^'  Vv^ays  preaching  to  me  here,  that  wc  are  much  too  fin- 
^'  gular,  and*bbtain  the  laugh  of  every  one  ;  and  yoir 
*'  will  not  believe,  my  dear  do;Sh)r,  how  much  trouble 
^'Ihave  in  keeping  down"  thefe  follies.  Bad  examples 
*'  however  are  too  numerous  ;  and  thefe  young  people 
"  would  be  run  away  with  by  them,  if  I  did  not  daily 
^'  combat  them.''"—''  You  ought  however  to  relax  your- 
''  fflf  a  little  more.''—''  I  ought  to  relax  1  Why  I  do-' 
*'  fo  but  too  often  ;  and  if  1  went  but  a  little  fl:ep  far- 
*'ther,  all  would  be  loft.  I  have  already  proofs  how 
'*  necefl'ary  it  Vv^as  to  (land  ftiif  againfl  the  firfl  com- 
*'  mencements  of  mifchief  in  their  tender  youth  ;  and 
*'  if  my  good  folks  were  not  as  well  fixed  in  good  habits 
"  as  they  are,  I  fiiould  no  icnger  be  able  to  keep  them  in 
^'  orderV" 

When  the  wedding  party  came  in,  I  found  the  fons' 
and  daughters  of  Kliyogg  much  better  clothed  and  more 
in  ftifuion,  than  in  truth  1  had  expeded.  None  belideft- 
Kliyogg  and  his  brother  Felix  appeared- in  their  ordkiary 

habits  ;. 


TIIE   RURAL  SOCRATES,  139 

liablts  ;  but  it  was  to  be  learned  from  their  countenan- 
ces, that  true  interior  fatisfaL^ion  comes  from  a  caufe 
very  different  from  exterior  ornament. 

No  time  was  lofl:  by  the  family  in  placing  themfelves 
at  table,  and  the  rell:  of  the  day  was  conrecrate-d  to  joy, 
—What  now  (Irtick  me  the  mofl  was  the  familiarity 
of  the  fervants  ;  who  were -not  diftinguilliabie  from 
the  children  of  the  family.  Companions  in  labors  of 
the  field,  they  are  permitted  to  ufe  every  liberty  at 
the  table,  and  to  partake  in  whatever  was  ferved.  The 
only  difference  to  be  found  between  them  is,  that  at 
ivork^  the  fervants  are  always  out-done  by  the  maders  ; 
icA"  a3  v/e  have  before  fcen,  every  one  in  this  ^houfe  en- 
deavors to  fiirj^fs  the  other  in  his  exertions. 

During  the  entertainment  Kliyogg  enlivened  the  whok; 
company  by  his  converfation.  I  never  faw  in  him  fo 
much  of  what  is  called  brilliancy,  without  its  fpoiling 
hovv'evcr  the  flrong  good  fenfe  which  conilanlly  diflin- 
guiflies  him.  He  turned  into  ridicule  both  parade  and 
fenfuality  ;  in  v/hich  mofl:  perfons  place  their  felicity, 
thougli  they  are  in  cfTcd  vices  leadinj^  to  unhappinefs 
and  want.  Without  offending  any  one,  for  which  fome 
(lull  was  requifite,  lie  intim.ated  that  the  drefs  of  the 
bride  was  by  no  means  conformed  to  principles. — It  was 
cbjecled  to  him  that  lie  declaimed  continually  againfl 
fnevr  and  vanity  ;  and  yet  had  for  his  wife  the  mofl:  flate- 
ly  of  all  the  v/omen  of  his  village.  'I'hat,  replied  he 
imiling,  is  a  proof  in  point,  that  even  a  (lately  woman 
will  not  difdain  a  laborious  man,  though  j4ain  and  mod- 
efl  ;  and  confequently  that  one  may  pieale  by  other 
means  befides  that  of  ornament  in  drefs. —He  then  be- 
gan to  praife  his  fervants,  in  an  agreeable  irony,  for  the 
trouble  they  had  given  him  to  diffuade  them  from  go- 
ing to  work  that  evening ;  and  to  lament  the  fatigue 
put  upon  them, in  bringing  home  in  pomp  the  clothes  and 
other  paraphernalia  of  the  bride  [braut-fuder.] 

lie  afterwards   led  the  converiation  to  the  iubje<51  of 
'\'^.  encouragements  which  ttie   gov^n:uje;it  and  Phiio- 

fopbicai 


I40  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

fophical  Society  give  to  agriculture  ;  (hevviiig  the  niif-^ 
chief  arifmg  from  tlie  country  people  not  being  fenfible 
of  the  value  of  their  aid  ;but  on  the  contrary, feeling  dif- 
fident towaids  thefe  perions.  He  dilated  upon  the  fe- 
licity which  might  refulc  froai  a  general  union,  in  or- 
der to  difcover,  adopt,  and  give  vigor  to  whatever  was. 
bcneficiaK  &c. — The  time  pafled  thus  in  fenfible  or 
joyous  difcourfc  ;  and  I  was  particularly  gratified  to  fee 
•Kliyogg  the  fame  in  all  circumftances  ;  and  thence  to 
prove  more  evidently  than  ever,  that  happinefs  neccffa- 
rily  flows  from  a  conduct  founded  on  iblid  principles 
fteadily  purfued.  Filled  with  this  happy  perfuafion 
and  determined  myfelf  to  profit  by  the  example  of  this, 
fage,  I  quitted  him  after  w idling  him  a  thoafand  blcf^ 
&ngs. 


S  E  C  T  I  O  N  JV. 

New  Vifits  to  Kliyogg,  New  Fiews  of  his  Hujhajidry^ 
Philofbphy^  and  Fa?mly*  His Jecond  Marriage.  His 
laft  llinejs  and  Death. 

[n.  b.  The  Editor  of  the  prefent  compi- 
'  lation  has  fortunately  obtained  the 
materials  for  this  fedion  through  a 
friend,  who  is  minifter  of  the  gofpel 
in  Switzerland ;  and  who  to  the  qua- 
licies  which  become  his  vocation,  joins 
confidcrable  general  learning,  with 
great  zeal  and  induftry,  and  alfo 
an  acquaintance  with  agriculture.  He 
\%  in  particular  an  admirer  of  German 

agriculture, 


THE  RURAL   SOCRATES.  141 

agriculture,  which  with  others  he  finds 
to  be  more  advanced  in  many  ficuacions, 
than  the  average  of  that  of  the  Engliih  ; 
eftimating  the  latter  as  it  is  exhibited 
in  the  accounts  pubiifhed  by  the  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  Great  Britain.  As 
a  proof  of  his  own  fkili  in  agriculture, 
this  refpeclable  perfon  had  fo  improved 
a  piece  of  neglected  land  given  to  him 
by  his  parifhioners,  by  the  ufe  of 
blue  marie  found  on  the  fpot  ;  that  he 
foon  fold  it  for  a  very  remarkable  price. 
Nothing  could  be  more  pointed  to  the 
moft  fuperficial  obferver,  than  the  dif- 
ference between  this  land,  and  the  un- 
improved land  ftill  fuifered  to  remaift 
in  its  neighborhood. 

The  materials  in  queftion  were  exr 
tra&ed  01  abridged  by  this  perfon  froni. 
a  Ger^nan  work  originally  pubiifhed  by 
Dr.  Hirzelf .  They  were  prefented  to 
the  Editor  in  a  French  drefs,  and  arc 
now  with,  fome  farther  abridgment  firft 
tranflated  into  Englifh.     £. j 

*  Tbe  title  given  to  in  French  is,  *♦  Un  coup  d'  oeil  fa^  T  harmonic  & 
^*  la  noblefle  dans  lesdifferentes  clafles  dcs  homnnes  ;**  or  "  A  ficetch  corti 
^  ccrning  lijrrr.ony  and  nobility  of  charai^cr  in  different  claffes  of  raen.'* 

PAGES 


J4£  THE   RURAL  SOCRA-^ES. 


IMAGES  g — 4»  Contain  only  compliments  to  the  fena- 
for  Angelo  Q^ririni  of  Venice,  to  whom  this  fl^etchis  ad- 
di-efled . 

p.  4.  Dr.  Rirzel  repeatedly  affirms,  that  he  has  feen 
icars  of  princes  flowing,  when  they  recognized  in  the 
countenance  of  the  peaiant  Kliyogg  the  nobienefs  of  the 
iuiman  character,  and  felt  their  own  imperfec-tions. 
Pvlore  than  once  he  has  had  the  fatisfac^ion  alio  to  ob- 
ferve  learned  men,  who  at  firil:  uied  great  efforts  to  put 
their  talents  upon  a.level  with  the  compreJienfion  of  this 
peafant,  finiih  by  being  his  attentive  hearers  ;  and  after 
having  horrowed  hints  from  his  good  Ct^nie.  devote  with 
^nthiifiafni  their  abilities  to  ufcfnl  things. 

p.  5.  Various  perfons  who  had  confidcrcd  the  pic^cure 
of  Kliyogg  by  the  author  as  a  poetical  fidlion,have  found 
it  falling  Ihort  of  the  original,  when  they  have  become 
acquainted  with  this  admirnblc  man.  &c. 

p.  6.  Kliyogg  was  a  means  of  furnilliing  many  occa- 
^ons  of  obferving  other  men  and  weighing  their  merits. 
In  hearing  the  friendly  tliicourres  between  this  peaiant 
^nd  people  of  quality  and  merit,  the  author  felt  all  the 
iiappincis  of  being  a  man.  He  faw  as  it  were  embodied, 
in  this  living  example  the  great  truth,  that  wifdom,  vir- 
tue and  hapincfs  are  the  i;:nic  in  every  condition  ;  and 
that  the  external  circiimflances  of  tlie  prince,  tl\e  learn- 
ed man,  the  artifl,  the  peaiant,  and  eyen  of  the  (lave, 
have  no  more  value,  compared  with  the  finer  qualities 
f>f  the  human  chnradrer  ;  than  drefs  hns  with  regard  to 
'he  human  body.  Drefs  fometimes  conreals  the  de.- 
7c^>s  of  the  body  and  furniQie.s  marks  of  diflintlliun,  bi]t 
T^ever  can  give  us  beauty  or  flrengt)]. — p.  7—9.  TU^: 
uthor  ROt  being  in  -i  fituation  to  tiTiVcl  or  to  m^ike  l^ril- 

lianl 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES,  143 

fent  acqiiaintnnce,  finds  this  made  up  to  him  by  the 
crowd  of  Grangers  who  have  addrefTed  themfclves  ta 
bim  in  order  to  fee  Kiiyogg, 

p.  14.  The  author  gives  an  account  of  a  vifit  to  Kii- 
yogg made  in  company  with  this  Venetian  lenator  and 
his  fellow-traveller  Dr.  Seflari. 

They  met  Kiiyogg  in  .hi*s  marle-pit ;  that  mine  of 
farmir.g  gold,  which  has  enabled  him  To  to  improve  the 
heavieft  of  hir,  fands,  that  they  bear  different  forts  of 
wheat  for  three  fucceffive  years  vvithoiu  iheaid  of  any 
other  manure*  He  was  loading  a  waggon  with  maris 
to  be  carried  into  a  field  juft  obtained  by  an  exchange  ■; 
and  v/hich  had  been  fo  much  neglected,  that  nothino; 
was  to  be  icen  upon  it  except  here  and  there  a  fe\w 
pines,  p.  15.  This  was  the  fpot  chcfen  for  the  confer- 
ence, p.  20.  Dr.  Hirzel  i^ys  th^t  it  was  long,  perhaps' 
for  ages,  that  this  treafme  had  lain  hid  under  cultiva- 
tion ;  and  that  it  was  at  length  allowed  to  Kiiyogg  to 
difcover  and  make  ufe  of  it  to  give  to  his  other  lands  a 
sew  degree  of  fertility  ;  and  thus  to  rccornpenfe  the 
labors  of  a  refpedlable  peafimt  vvhx)ni  Providence  had 
deilined  to  fervc  as  a  proof  and  example,  that  the  di- 
vine benediclion  accompanies  the  cultivator  who  is  la- 
bar  ions  and  indaftrious.*^'  ^' 

KHyogg  ftruck  off  with  \m  hoc'a  piece  of  this  marie, 
bleding  the  hour  ni  which  he  had  difcovered  this  trea-. 
fure,  tmd  thole  perfons  who  had  inllruded  him  in  the* 
ule  of  a  mixture  of  different  forts  of  earth,  He  fa  id' 
with  the  mofl:  lively  emotion  of  joy  ^  I  owe  to  this  marls 

*  not  only  abundant  hai  veils,  but  the  chara<fler  of  my 
-  children.  It  is  true,  tliat  they  murmured  againfc  ml 
'  at  firlf,  for  employing  them  in  hard  labor  eVen  ditrm:' 
^  ths  winter^  which  otlier  peafants  pafTed  in  idlenefs  and 

*  ale-houies,  or  in  ufelefs  talk.'     ''  ff'liy  (faid  they  oft- 
"■  en)  are  we  not  equally  with  them  to  enjoy  the  fruits  cf 
*'  our  labor y  and  t(^    repair  i-a  this  7^.3^7yiirv  our  j atignei 


144  THE  RUPvAL  SOCRATES. 

^^  from  the  fummcr  f — *  M/  children  could  little  com- 
'  prehcnd   that  conPcant  labor  gives  health  and  force, 

*  and  that  want  of  occupation  and  indolence  deprives  us 
'  of  thefe.  But  what  particularly  increafed  their  diP 
*•  content  w^as,  the  tone  of  raillery  v/ith  which  our  neigh- 

*  bors  fpoke  of  our  work  :  "  Of  what  ufs  (exclaimed 
*'  thefe  people)  are  iheje  heaps  cf  /and:  is  he  ^oing  to 
*'^  turn  his  fields  into    defarts*^  f   and  fo  on.      Hence  I 

*  had  need    of  all   my    paternal  authority   to  keep  my 

*  children  to  labors,  which  they  held  not  only  as  ufelefs, 

*  but  even  mifchievous.  (p.  23.)  But  at  length  the  rich 
'  harvefts    with  which    Providence   biefled   us,  forced 

*  them  to  confefs,  that  I  had  faid  nothing  which  was  not 

*  both  trufe  and  ufefuL     They  now  enjoy  the  bed  health 

*  and  remarkable  ftrength.     They    acknowledge    that 

*  they  do  their  duty  to  God,  when  they  fulfil  the-duties 

*  of  their  flation,  and  when  they  work  with  zeal  and 
^  judgment.     They    defpife  the  hypocritical  difcourfes 

*  of  the  idle,  who  after  crofTing  their  hands,  expcd:  in 
'•  that  flate  the  divine  blefling  ;  madly  flattering  them- 

*  felves  that  they  fliall  dcferve  it  folely  by  prayers  which 

*  they  do  not  underftand,  and  by  frequenting  church  or 
*-  reading  books  of  devotion/ 

Tlie  author's  companions  reprcfent'ed  toKliyogg,  that 
it  was  nevertheiefs  proper  to  allov/  to  his  children  fome 
lei  Cure  and  recreation. — But  Khyogg  replied,  '  I  pro- 
^  cure  for  them,  as  often  as  poUIble,  the  joy  which  ac- 

*  companies  the  view  of  the  blcilings  fnowered  upon  us 

*  byProvidence.  (p.  24.)  Every  hai'veft  I  hire  a  violin- 
•^  player,  who  amufes  us  while  we  arc  at  w^ork,  and  with 
^  whom  we  often  fing  with  enthufiafm  one  of  the  pfaims 
^  of  king  David;  feeling,  ourielves,  joyous  as  Kings,  and 
^  ravillied  with  the  goodneis  of  our  Creator.* — '  This  is 
^  all  well  (laid  they  ;)  but  young  people  demand  other 
^  recreations  :  and,  in  particular,  on  feflival-days  they 
^  require  to  be   amuied  with  their  companions.' — *  As 

*  to  fcfUval  days,  ((aid  Kliyogg,)  we  employ  them  in 
'^  going  to  hear  a  icrr.ion,  in  finging  hymns,  in  talking 

*-  upon 


rUK  RURAL  SOCRATES,  14^ 

*  upon  every  fubjed  which  prefcnts   itfelf  in  walking 

*  in  our  fields,  and  Co  on.  But  may  God  preferve  me 
'  (P-  25)  from  ever  permitting  my  children  to  go  into 
'  noily  company,  into  taverns,  or  into  dancing  houfes  ? 
'  fuch  indjlgence  would  only  lerve  to  Ipoil  them,  and 
'  precipitate  them  into  the  depths  of  corruption  and 
'  misfortune.     I  acknowledge  none  to  be  true  pleafnres, 

*  which  do  not  encourage  us  in  our  work,  and  preferve 

*  our  confciences  pure  and  fpotlefs.' 

p.  25.  The  company  now  defircd  with  much  inter- 
eft  to  learn  what  Kliyogg  thought  on  the  fubje^:  of  God 
c.nd  Religion.  He  explained  himfelf  as  follows,  p.  25-  — 
26.     M  read  in  the   bible  that  God   created   and    pre- 

*  fervcs  the  woi  Id  ;  that  his  mercy  has  engaged  him  to 

*  fuccoiir  us  in  our  n:^.tural  corruptionj  and  to   pardon 

*  our   fins  through  Jefus  Chrift,   as  Jikewife  to  alTif]:  us 

*  by  his  Spirit  in  the  pradice  of  virtue  ;  and  that  he 
'  will  make  us  happy  in  this  and  the  other  world,   if  we 

*  oblerve  his  commandments  and  imitate  the  virtues  of 
'  our  Saviour.     In  cffed:,  I  have  only  to  open  my  eyes. 

*  and  to  regard  by  turns  the  flars  of  heaven,  the  moun- 
^  tains,  the  plains,  the  animal  creation,  and  theinnume- 
'  rable  produaions  of  the  earth  ;  to  feel  the  truth  of  the 
'  cxiQence  of  a  creating  Gvjd.     I    labor,   I   educate  my 

*  children,  I  fulfil  as  much  as  poffible  all  my  duties"; 
^  and  the  fertility  of  my  fields  and  the  aid  given  me  by 

*  my  children,  convince  me,  that  God  gracioufly  blef- 
*■  fesihofe  who  obferve  his  commandments.     This  en- 

*  courages  me  in  my  exertions  ;  gnd  I  ei^joy  the  divine 
^  aid  Vw'ith  gratitude  and  praifes  for  his  bounty.  My 
'•  heart  is   content   and  tranquil  ;    and    I    red  "^affured 

that   i^rovidence    does  and   will  do  every    thing  for 

'  me,  which  can  render  me  happy  in  t/iis  life  and  in  that 

which  IS  to  follow,     I  do  not  know  in  what  form   it 

will  judge  it  wife  to  acccmplifh   the  latter  point  ;  but 

it  13  enough  for  me  to  know  that  it  will  certainly  doit.' 

p.  27.  \x\  order  to  ibund  Kliyogg  and  learn  whether 

lis  heart  was  free  from  religious  rancor,   Dr.  Hirzel 


k 


146  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES- 

faid,  ^*  Do  you  know  Kliyogg,  that  thcfe  pcrfons  arc 
''  catholics  ?'' — He  anfwered,  fmiling,  *  And  what  does 
'  thatfignify,  provided  they  are  virtuous  ;  and  of  this  I 
^  do  not  doubt,  judging  from  the  friendly  manner  in 

*  which  they  aredilpofed  to  converfe  with  pealants  and 
^  to  inform  thcmfelves  of  their  occupations.  lefleem  them 
^  the  more,  fiuce  though  flrangerSjthey  fhewme  affe^lion. 

*  It  is  not  their  fault  that  they  arc  not  of  the  reformed 

*  religion.  I  alfo  fliould  be  a  catholic,  had  I  been  born  of 
^  catholic  parents.  I  (hould  efteem  a  Turk  or  a  Pagan^ 
^  provided  he  were  virtuous  :  I  Ihould  even  love  him  bet- 
^  ter,  fince  it  his  harder  for  thefe  to  pradicc  virtue. 
'  than  for  Chriftians  to  do  fo.* 

p.  28-29.  To  difcover  whether  Kliyogg  was  con- 
tented with  his  condilion,  the  companions  of  JDr.Hirze! 
a^cd  him  ''  whether  he  would  exchanoe  his  fituation 
^  for  that  of  a  nobleman  ;  and  if  he  would  not  rather 
^  command  than  obey  ;  afTuring  him,  that  a  good  fath- 
^  er  of  a  family  like  himfelf,  who  ruled  his  houfiiold 
^  with  fo  much  zeal  and  tirmnefs,  v/ould  be  very  capa* 
^  ble  of  condu£ling  a  much  larger  fociety." — '^  God 
^  preferve  me  from  this,  (laid  he)  :  1  would  rather  an 
^  hundred  times  be  a  peasant  than  a  lord." — ^  And 
'-  what  is  yourreafon,  when  it  is  fo  pleafant  and  praiie- 
^  worthy  to  render  men  happy  by  good  law^s  ?' — '  I 
"  have  nothhig  to  objetft  to  this  ;  but  it  is  a  fatiguing 
^  employment ;  and  i  find  in  my  condition,  much  fewer 
^  obftacles  to  doing  what  is  good  and  ufeful,  than  you 
^  do  in  yours.  Whiit  occafionsi  me  mofl:  vexation  and 
^  trouble  in  my  labors,  is  the  obftinacy  of  my  fervants  y 

*  whom  yet  I  have  the  power  of  difmifiing  whenever 
^  they  ceale  to  obey  me.     For  you  gentlemen,  who  alio 

*  have  need  of  perlbns  to  aflill  and  work  for  you  ;  I 
^  know  that  thefe,  like  my  own  fervants,  are  fometimes 
^  fufficiently  ignorant  and  obliinate  to  oppofe  the  moll 
^  ufeful  of  your  enterprizes  ;  and  yet  you  cannot  al* 
'■'  ways  drive  them  from  vour  fervicc  ;  But  yielding  ta 

their 


TliE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  I47 

'  their  ob{linacy,  you  arc  often  forced  to  renounce  the 
^  good  you  had  deligised  to  perform/ 

p.  29-30.  The  next  obje£l  of  the  oarty  was  to  learn 
whether  Kliyogg  was  inlenfible  to  vanity  ;  and  Dr. 
Hirzel  was  therefore  defired  to  inform  him,  that  they 
had  brought  with  them  a  condderable  painter  to  take 
his  portrait,  to  be  exhibited  to  public  \iew  at  Venice. 
Kliyogg  anfwered  with  a  fmile,  that  ''  this  would  nei- 

*  ther  render  him  better  nor  happier  ;  but  that  neverthe* 

*  iefs  he  would  not  oppofe  their  wifh,  if  they  thought  it 

*  could  give  fatisfadlion  to  any,  or  be  of  ufe."= — ButKli- 
yogg  had  no  idea  of  the  flattery  arifing  from  glory.  Dro 
Hirzel  was  convinced  of  this,  by  feveral  vifits  which 
had  been  made  to  him  by  princes.  He  felt  indeed  much 
gratification  in  feeing  pcrfons,  fo  elevated,  condefcend 
thus  in  his  favor  ;  andexprefTed  this  in  his  compliments 
to  them  ;  but  he  never  (hewed  any  marks  of  being 
proud  in  confequence.  Hence  thefe  princes,  in  propor- 
tion as  they  gained  an  infight  into  his  charadler,  difcov- 
ered  in  him  the  Rural  Socrates,  and  refpe»^ed  and  loved 
him  asfuch. 


The  fccond  article  in  the  original  of  this  work  by  Drc 
Hirzel  (from  p.  89  to  178)  regards  the /^(^^^(/f  ofknoiv-- 
ledge  in  modern  times ^  and  the  manner  of  cnli^^htening  a 
people;  but  it  fays  not  a  word  of  Kliyogg  or  of  sgricuU 
ture. 

A  new  Examination  cf  the  philofophy  of  Kliyogg  fol- 
lows ;  addreffed  to  Mr.  Mercy,  Bail  iff  (or  civil  chief) 
of  St.  Pierre  in  the  Black  forefl  (oppofite  to  Alface.) 


H— rt-rra^gSaBEnswr^ 


p.     199  —  202. 


?48  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES, 

p.  199  —  202.  Dr  Hirzel  devotes  one  of  the  fine  days 
of  the  fpring  tea  vifit  to  Kliyogg, in  order  to  examine  liis 
philofophy  anew.'— He  did  this  whh  the  more  eager- 
r.efs,  as  the  family  of  Klivogg  had  its  peace  difturbcd 
iincth'is Jecond niartiaoe.  His  children  often  complain- 
ed of  the  iianhnefs  and  obliinacy  of  their  father,  and 
thought  themlclves  privileged  to  oppole  him  ;  regard- 
ing his  ideas  of  propriety  and  economy  (for  he  was 
frugal  in  fpitc  of  the  increale  of  his  fortune)  as  fingular- 
ilies  which  expofed  his  family  to  derifion.  Often  did 
they  controxert  his  plans  of  agriculture,  in  which  he 
"tvas  aKvays  in  purfnit  of  lornctlsing  new  which  called 
for  much  labor,  and  wos  often  inexplicable  ;  and  fame, 
as  ufnal,  magnified  their  quarrels.  The  family  began 
to  deride  our  philofophcr  and  to  attribute  his  vivacity 
to  the  power  of  wine;  which  Was  laid  to  be  his  great 
enjoy m en tv  fin ce  he  had  planted  a  vineyard  of  his  ownc 
— The  author  himlclf  indeed  feared  either  thatKliyogg 
was  deferted  by  his  philofophy  ;  or  that  he  had  drauri 
too  favorable  pidure  of  him,  feduced  by  enthufiafm^ 
'Sic*       ■  .  ;    •    i 

p.  202 — 204.  To  difcover  the  truth  the  author bcgaa 
with  addreiPiDg  to  Kiiyogg  diiierent  fhort  queAioiis  ; 
and,  pretending  ignorance  of  ail  which  had  pjifTed  fince 
their  lafl  interview,  he  left  him  time  to  anfwer  at  his 
jeifare,  &c.  But  all  the'anfwers  of  Kiiyogg  ferved  on- 
jly  to  perfuade  the  author,  that  he  fteadily  entcrtsired 
liis  old  ideas  and  followed  his  old  principles  ;  and  that 
in  fpite  of  the  lufrrcof  Ins  fame,  he  was  always  the  fame. 
This  rnnde  it  the  more  incredible  to  Dr.  Hirzel,  that 
fuch  a  matifhould  fuffer  himfelf  lo  be  ltd  away  by  pal- 
fion,  obflinacy,  anger,  jealouiy,  ai'd  the  love  of  wine, 
it  is  true,  that  he  himlclf  confeiled,  Uiat  he  fom.etimrs 
loved  wine  too  mucl)  ;  but  he  blulhed  at  hearing  tie 
exhortations  which  the  author  ^ddreflcd  to  liim  on  this 
fiibjetft:,  and  piomilcd  to  corred  himfelf.  The  efioi t5 
ivhich  he  made  on  this  fubjefc,    ccnvintcd   Uw  Hirzei, 

that 


THE   RUFlAL  SOCRATES.  14^ 

^ihat  his  heart  had  not  changed  vs  fenthnents,  and  that 
tiis  reafbn  (till  controlled  his  palFions. 

p.  204 — 205.  What  had  pafTcd  npon  the  preceding 
occaiion,  engaged  the  author  to  devote  another  day  to 
Kliyogg,  in  order  to  fludy  his  ch^ratfler  with  redoubled 
attention;    namely  the  11  April  1777» 

p.  205 — 23>6.  At  hir>  an  ival  Di-.Hirzel  found  Kliycgg 
cccMpicd  in  digging  a  ditch  near  his  cellar,  of  tiie  depth 
of  5  feet,  and  lonnc  hundred  paces  in  length  ;  in  order 
to  drain  av/ay  its  water  into  an  adjoining  river.  He 
was  workipg  with  all  his  might,  in  an  old  and  tatter- 
ed drefs.— His  fons  blufhed  at  the  fight  of  their  vifitant  ; 
but  Kliyogg  after  welcoming  him,  laid,    *'  you  find  me, 

*  my  dear  (iodlor,  in  the  worfl  of  my  clothes  ;  at  which 
'  thcfe  gentlemen  bluili  ;  but  you  will  be  fenhble,  that 
'*  it  is  exadly  thus  that  I  ought  to  be  dieifed,  to  work  in 
^  the  manner  the  cafe  requires.  If  I  were  better  dreffed, 

*  a  part  of  my  attention  would  be  beftowed  upoamy 
'  clothes,   and  my  undertaking  would  fare  ^11  the  wei  le 

*  for  it.     Nothing  faid  he  with  vivacity,  is  more  hurt- 

*  ful  to  a  peafant,  than  pride  and  luxury  in  drefs  :  they 

*  v/irhdraw  a  part  of  his  attention  from  his  work,  which 

*  will  only  be  done   fuperficially  in  this  cafe,  and  many 

*  elTential  things  will  cafdy  be  omitted,  Sec' 

207  —  2JO,  by  the  fide  of  the  ditch  v/as  a  iield  of 
about  an  acre,  prepared  for  clover, — Experience  had  ai 
length  ftiezvn  io  Kliyogg  all  the  vje  of  this  J  or  ape.  The 
quantity  of  his  hay  had  confidcrably  increafed,  fmcc 
this  artificial  grafs  (as  it  is  called)  had  enabled  him 
to  fpare  his  natural  grafs.  He  had  in  particular  found 
that  the  Spani/Ji  clover  agreed  fingukrly  well  with 
horles  ;  fattening  them  and  keeping  them  in  heart, 
without  puffing  them  up  ;  which  is  not  to  be  aitirmed 
of  the  common  clover. — ^The  field  deflined  for  clover 
had  now  in  it  flax  feed  (grains  d'huile)  ;  and  ail  the 
manure  which  he  gave  to  it  was  gypfum  [or  plaiflerof 
Paris.]— An  experience  of  four  years  had  conquered  all 

hi« 


tSO  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

his  prejudices  with  re/ped  to  this  gypjmi,  Thcfc  prcja- 
dices  arofe  from  an  auempt  which  he  had  made  in  the 
year  1774  ;  w'len,  after  fowing  a  field  with  clover  and 
then  ftjewing  it  withgypfum,  a  drought  of  four  weeks 
fucceedcd,  and  the  crop  entirely  failed.  His  difguft 
was  fuch,  that  he  came  running  to  town  to  reproach 
our  author  for  having  fulFered  himftlf  to  be  mifled  by 
books,  when  he  h  «d  recommended  fo  worthlefs  a  thing 
to  him.  Dr.  Hirzel  appeafed  him  by  repicienting,  that 
a  man  like  him,  ought  not  to  have  negleded  to  remark 
the  drynefs  of  the  (eafon,  which  had  injured  his  other 
meadows  and  fields  ;  that  he  ought  not  to  be  difcourag- 
cd  by  the  failure  of  a  firfl:  attempt,  but  ihould  rather 
take  the  hint  to  fpread  his  gypfiim  during  or  after  rain  ; 
and  that  he  ought:  not  to  plough  the  field  immediately, 
as  he  propofed,  on  account  of  what  had  happened,  but 
fhould  wait  for  a  more  favorable  feafon.  Kliyogg  had 
no  reafon  to  repent  the  having  followed  this  advice  ;  as 
his  clover  lucceeded  lb  well,  that  he  came  the  next 
ipring  to  confefs  his  obligations  for  it. 

p.  211.  Near  this  field  of  clover  was  the  Langwiefc, 
a  meadow,  which  Kliyogg  had  found  quire  neglet^ed  ; 
but  which  improved  from  day  to  day  by  a  mixture 
of  water  and  mud,  which  he  contrived  to  conducTl: 
there. 

p.  212.  From  hence  Kliyogg  led  the  author  to  a  field 
containing  about  an  acre  ;  of  which  the  foil  \vas  a  dry 
gravel,  covered  with  a  very  (lender  coat  of  black  mould. 
Here  alfo  he  fowed  clover  with  fbccefs. 

p.  21  g — 218.  A  little  higher  up  were  about  £fty 
acres  of  grain. — It  was  eafy  at  a  diftance  to  remark  a 
difference  of  goodnels  in  the  crop.  The  upper  and  lower 
parts  formed  a  green  carpet  5  but  the  middle  was  yellow 
throughout. — The  lower  part,  confiding  of  8  acres  had 
been  manured  ;  and  bore  the  beft  of  wheal.  Of  the 
42  remaining  acres,  25  had  been  dreffed  only  with 
mjirle  ;  and  yet  in  nothing  fell  fhort  of  the  former. 
Kliyogg,  the  winter  before  he  lowed  thclafl  mentioned 

acres. 


THE  RURAL  SOCKATES.  15X 

acres,  had  carried  upon  the  ground  600  waggon  loads 
of  marlc  (drawn  by  f  jur  horfes  each)  ;  and  having 
fprcad  this  marie  every  where  evenly,  two  fucceflive 
ploughings  perfedly  united  it  with  the  natural  foil.  It 
mud  be  added,  that  thefc  acres  were  originally  the  worfl 
of  the  whole  50  ;  and  that  now  they  even  exceeded  the  8 
firft  mentioned,  having  fewer  weeds  with  a  lighter  foil. 
— What  adoniflied  our  author  was  the  duration  of  the 
effects  of  the  marie.  Kliyogg  had  a  field  of  wheat  \cry 
finely  conditioned,  w^hich  neverthelefs  had  received  no 
other  drcfiing  than  marie  four  years  before. — In  another 
field  which  he  had  already  twice  marled,  the  young 
grain  was  finer  than  any  where  elfe.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  fields  of  his  next  neighbors,  which  had  na 
marie,  were  lb  little  producflix  e,  that  they  fcarccly  re- 
paid their  pofFelTors  for  their  expence. 

p.  2ig— 221.  From  his  fields,  Kliyogg  went  to  his 
marie  pit. — A  marle-pit  fornetimes  makes  itfelf  knowr^ 
at  the  furface  ;  but  at  other  times  it  is  covered  with  a 
mixed  foil  of  a  few  inches,  under  which  the  marie  fome- 
times  defcends  ten  feet.  Mere  and  thei-e  hard  pieces 
prefent  themfelves,  in  which  arc  petrified  plants.  The 
marie  in  general  has  a  ^yrcy  color,  but  it  is  fornetimes 
blue,  it  contains  particles  ivhich  gliden  in  the  fun  ;  it 
ferments  with  acids  ;  and  it  yields  a  very  fmall  quanti- 
ty of  feleneticfalt. 

p.  222 — 224.  Before  quitting  the  marie  pit,  we  mull 
fpeak  of  an  amiable  aft  of  our  philofopher.  He  re- 
commended 10  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Watt,  a  poor 
peafant,  in  whom  he  had  remarked  a  great  palTion  for 
agriculture  ;  but,  being  without  means,  this  peafani 
could  undertake  nothing  important.  The  Society  mace 
him  a  prefent  of  20  liorins,  five  of  uhich  he  fpcnt  in 
buying  a  little  negleftcd  field  of  half  an  acre.  The  reil 
of  his  money  he  employed  in  bringing  marie  upon  it  ; 
which  by  this  drcfiing  and  his  labors  v»."as  fo  improv- 
ed, that  in  the  firit  year  it  yielded  50  ftieaves  of  wheat. 
---The  countenar.ee  of  Kliyogg  brightened  with  iov,  as 


152,  THE   KUPcAL  SOCRATES. 

he  pointed  to  this  field,  and  felicitated  himfelf  with 
having  contributed  to  the  relief  of  a  p  >or  and  indiiflri- 
ous  man,  '^  You  cannot  believe  (faid  he)  how  fmall  an 
'  aid  is  requidte  to  be  given  to  an  indigent  man,  to  ena- 
'"  ble  him  to  make  a  little  fortune.  1  co\dd  prove  this 
^  by  many  examples  of  peafants^  who  have  been  adilled 
'  by  the  Ecojiomic  Society,  They  begin  fometimes  by 
'  buying  a  cow  with  the   money  they   receive  ;•  which 

*  not  only  furnifnes  the  fanriiJy  with  the  necefTary  milk^ 

*  but  gives  them   at  the  lame  time  manure  to  tertilize 

*  their  little  piece  of  land  ;  which  encouraging  and  le- 
*•  doubling  their  induftry,  they  buy  (out  of  their  favings 
'  or  upon  loan,)  neglecfled  fields,  of  which  they  know 
^  how  greatly  to  augment  the  value  in  a  few  years." 

p.  225'-226.  Bat  to  return  toKliyogg.  To  the  weH: 
of  his  farm  are  condderabie  fields,  belonging  to  the  pea- 
fants  of  I^umlingen.  This  village,  for  many  years,  has 
employed  itielf  in  ipinniiig  (lockings  ;  and  is  mad 
enough  to  facrince agriculture  to  this  occupation,  which 
7S  little  lucrative  ;  and  in  particular  it  lacrifices  to  it  the 
fields  in  queftion,  v,^hich  it  fcarcely  tills  once  in  thiec 
years.  Kliyogg  rents  three  acres  of  thefe,  merely  to 
In(lru(5l  this  village  in  its  true  interefls  :  But  hitherto 
his  example  has  produced  no  citeTr,  except  to  engage 
one  (ingle  peafant  to  make  an  ellablidiment  there,  which 
perfecHv  fucceeds, 

p.  226—250.  Kliyogg  now  led  his  guefls  into  a  mea- 
dow behind  his  woods,  and  extending  to  his  fields. — He 
pointed  out  as  he  went  aU^ng,  a  fleep  bank,  which  for- 
merly by  the  little  trees  or  fhrubs  with  which  it  was 
covered,  did  much  harm  to  the  neighboring  wheat. 
Thefe  he  rooted  up, and  burned  ;  Ipreadingthe  a{lics,and 
the  leaves  which  had  rotted  on  this  foot  during  many 
years, upon  hisfields. -This  was  a  freQiinftance of  indefat- 
igable labor  of  Kliyojrg  in  recurring  toeverypollible me- 
thod of  mannung  his  lards — The  meadow  in 

queftion  confiiled  of  eight  acres  ;  and  its  low  fituation 
gendered  it  moid  and  marlliy.     Khyogg  began  by  car- 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  15^ 

Tying  to  it  confiderable  quantities  of  manure,  whfch  the 
difcovery  of  his  marie  rendered  fo  pradlicable.  This 
manure  increafing  his  grafs,  he  was  enabled  to  increafe 
his  cattle,  and  thence  his  dung.  But  all  this  required 
the  patience,  firmnefs,  application,  and  reflexion  of  Kli- 
yogg. — The  drielV  part  of  this  meadow  Kliyogg  had 
fpread  over  with  gypium  ;  and  the  iflue  anfwered  his 
expeiflations,  the  meadow  being  covered  with  red  clo- 
ver, as  with  a  carpeti  Twenty  fmall  meafures  of  gyp- 
fum  at  the  cofl  of  three  florins,  fill  a  falt-barrcl  ;  and 
one  barrel  fufficed  for  a  whole  acre  ;  producing  as  nuich 
effect  as  ten  loads  of  dung,  without  being, fubjedlt  to  any 
of  the  inconveniences  of  which  fome  accufe  it,   . 

p.  231 — 232.  After  running  over  half  the  farm,  the 
author  turned  towards  the  hpufe,  there  to  make  a  coun- 
try dinner. — But  as  they  palTed  a  particular  field,  Kli- 
yogg remarked  that  it  had  been  marled  without  the 
lead  benefit ;  which  he  attributed  to  the  moifiure  of  the 
marie;  it  having  been  taken  from  a  pit  entirely  filled 
with  v/ater. — It  is  here  therefore  proper  to  obfervc, 
that  there  are  different  forts  of  marle^  all  of  which  have 
not  the  fame  efficacy  ;  and  that  it  is  abfolutely  necfeffa- 
ry  to  ftudy  the  land,  and  to  confult  experiment,  before 
employing  the  marie  in  any  quantity  j  the  bcfl  theory 
being  contradicted  often  by  pratSlice. 

p.  233 — 234.  In  palling  by  the  woods  of^  KHyOgg 
their  neatncis  appeared  aflonifhing.  The  abfence  of 
thorns,  of  mofs,  and  of  heaps  of  leaves,  made  it  appear. 
like  walking  in  fhady  alleys.— But  we  ihall  find  that 
this  neatnefs  arofe  from  Kliyogg  having  found  in  hii 
woods,  the  befl  manure  for  his  vines « 

p.  234 — 235.  In  order  to  give  an  idea  of  the  inf^exi^ 
bility  of  Kliyogg,  in  avoiding  every  thing  which  could 
turn  away  his  attention  from  his  principal  occupation 
or  introduce  idlenefs,  we  may  obferye  before  we  attend 
him  into  his  houfe,  that  he  has  no  bees.  Without  de- 
nying the  utihty  of  their  honey  and  the  inftrudlion  to  be 
derived  from  their  focial  labors,  he  maJntalr-:?.  Khat  the^ 
^'  '        cof?. 


IS4 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 


coft-  too  much  trouble,  and  that  wc  flop  too  often  id' 
obfervc  them,  to  be  paid  by  their  honey  and  wax  ;  efpc* 
cially  as  they  require  mod  attention  in  the  hay  ieafon. 

p.  236-239.  Thefamiiy  of  our  philofopher  was  found 
at  table,  and  afforded  a  lively  example  of  the  happy 
refult  of  a  wife  domeflic  government.  Two  Tons,  fl:out, 
well  made  and  healthy,  and  who  had  an  air  of  profpcri- 
ty  ;  with  two  daughters^  who  perfe^lly  refembled  their 
brothers  ;  had  their  feats  at  the  upper  end  of  the  table. 
At  their  fide,  fat  the  fervants  ;  who  appeared  much  at 
their  eafe  ;  for  the  table  being  fpread  for  all  alike,  all 
ierved  themfelves  with  the  fame  freedom  ;  the  fervants 
rot  being  obliged  to  wait  with  impatience  till  the  mafl:er 
and  family  were  fatisfiedy  before  they  fat  down  to  mifcr- 
ablc  remnants.  In  ibort,  Uiere  was  equality  between 
the  niafler  and  fervant  both  at  taWle  and  at  work,  which 
communicated  to  the  converfation  a  like  equality.  Two 
diflies  of  boiled  biyley,  two  others  of  pears  which  had 
been  baked  and  dried^,  good  bread  made  of  wheat  and 
rye,  and  a  pitcher  of  water,  formed  the  dinner.  The 
author  obferved  at  the  end  of  their  meal,  that  there* 
were  large  remains,  which  proved  that  avarice  was  not 

the  vice  of  Kliyogg When  it  was  afked  with' 

furprife,  '*  Why  there  was  no  wine  at  table  ?"  Kliyogg' 
anfwcrcd,  '' that  he  referved  the  wine  to  refrefh   his 

*  companions  when  fatigued  with  their  work  ;  for  which 

*  purpofe  a  quantity  was  always  carried   into  the  fields 

*  at  ten  in  the  morning  and  at  four  in  the  afternoon, 

*  when  it  was  equally  diilributed  betvv'cen  his  children 
'*  and  the  domed ics." 

p.  239 — 243.  Two  of  the  latter  particularly  attracfl- 
cd  our  author's  notice. — llie  fird  was  a  man  advanced 
in  ye^rs,  who  walked  with  ditficulty,  on  accoimt  of  pains 
which  had  attacked  his  knees  during  a  very  long  peri- 
od.    Such  a  man  feemed  little  fit  for  hard  labor  ;   huf 

Kliyogg 

•Many  of  the  Swifs  n^ake  a  very  good  dlfh  of  f.ears  baked  dry,  wi:h 
hid  cjT  ft»me  oihrj  fat  fubftancc  hea;cd  up  vvhh  ir^ 


THE  RURAL  SGCRA.TE&.  gg^ 

l^liypgg  fald  that  he  hsd  taken  him  into  his  houfc  from 
compalBon,  upon  feeiDg  him  forced  to  beg  5  and  that  he 
gave  him  only  fmail  wages  and  the  ufe  of  his  tabic, 
which  his  work  nearly  repaid.— The  other  domeflic 
was  an  orphan  from  a  neighboring  village,  who  begged 
from  houie  to  houfe,  and  whom  Kliyogg  took  to  his 
home  ;  giving  him  in  his  family  a  good  education.  His 
children  and  fervants  remonftrated  at  firft:  againfl  this, 
the  latter  even  rcfufing  to  work  with  iuch  a  vagabond  i 
but  our  phiiofopher  was  refolute,  notwithflanding  the 
youth  was  not  without  his  faults.  [In  the  fequel,  in 
defiance  of  the  patience,  care,  and  firmnels  of  Kli- 
yogg, this  young  man  eloped  with  a  new  fuit  of  clothes 
upon  his  back.J 

p.  244 — 247.  «..,...  The  rcfrefliment  offered  to 
Dr.  Hirzel  was  boiled  milk  and  breadt,  a  piece  of  beef 
from  which  fdup  had  been  madel,  bread,  and  laftly 
wine  from  the  vineyards  of  Kliyogg.  The  repaft  was 
feafoned  with  friendly  difcourfe  ;  and  with  the  prefence 
of  two  grand  fons  of  Kliyogg,  and  of  a  little  boy  which 
Kliyogg  had  by  his  fecond  wife  ^  being  the  youngefl  per- 
Ton  in  the  houfe. — New  difcoveries  v^ere  now  made 
of  the  chara6ler  of  our  phiiofopher  o  His  fecond  wife 
appeared  at  table  :  a  good  antd  laborious  woman, 
who  by  the  fpirit  and  prudence  which  fiie  had  fhcwn 
during  her  widowhood,  and  the  manner  in  which  (he 
had  educated  her  children  from  a  little  property  whicii 
was  in  debt ;  had  attached  Kliyogg,  and  induced  him  to 
marry  her,  after  iiril  quieting  the  repugnance  of  his 
children  to  the  match.  As  the  wife  during  the  enter- 
tainment was  Tometimes  abfcnt  to  attend  ,her  kitchen, 
Kliyogg  in  this  interval  took  her  young  child  upon  his 
knees,  and  amuled  it  as  well  as  a  nurfe  could  have  done  y 
looking  at  it  very  affedlionatcly,  and  holding  it  in  a  more 

dexterous 

•f  The  French  call  this  m'tlk  joup,  (fou}  au  J  ait,)    E. 

%  This  houilli  is   as  common  in  fjmc    parts  of  Svvitzcrlandj  8S   t« 

France,     E. 


I5«  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

(dexterous  manner  than  could  be  expefted  from  a  man 
grown  old  in  the  hardefl  work.  He  neverthelcfs  faid 
that  he  did  not  long  expevSb  to  prefer ve  this  child,  who 
in  truth  had  a  fickly  countenance. 

p.  248 — 249.  The  fons  of  Kliyogg  had  this  day  been 
working  in  the  vines  ;  an  occupation  which  they  pre- 
ferred to  all  others  ;  on  w^hich  fubjeft  their  father  ad- 
'drcffed  to  them  Come  advice. 

p.  250 .When  the  Tons  were  retiredjKliyogg complain- 
ed that  they  were  too  fond  of  riches.  ^'  My  eldeft  fon, 
'*  faid  he,  is  always  afking  for  a  rich  wife  ;  but  rich  wives 

*  love  luxury  and  good  living,  and  objedl  to  work  ;  as 

*  well  on  account  of  their  delicate  conflitutions,  as  from 
^  the  fear  of  dirtying  their  clothes.     Thefe  impreffions 

*  are  dommuuTcated,'  little  by  little,  to  their  hufbands  ; 

*  who  avoid,  in  their  turn,  all  hard  and  dirty  work ; 
^  and  fjniih  by  becoming  the  mere  inipeftors  of  their 

*  workmen.  Their  workmen  laugh  at  an  idle  niafter 
'  who  turns  his  back  upon  his  bufinefs,  and  imitate  him 
^  by  doing  nothing  ;  whence  the  harveds  diminiQi,  the 
'  fields  become  neglcv^ed,  diforder  creeps  into  the  houf- 

*  hold,  and  by  degrees  all  the  'wealth  vanifties.     There 

*  are  no  true  riches  but  thofe  enjoyed  without  remorfc 

*  and   with   true  contentment.     Work  muft  be   dorte 

*  from  a  love  for  it,  or  from  duty  ;  and  not  with  a  dc- 

*  fire  to' become  enriched.'    He  who  works  from  a  paf 

*  fion  for  doing  his  duty,  will  always  pofTefs  the  divine 
^blefTing."       ■  -^    - 

p.  252 — 254.  Some  geographical  and  myfllca]  books 
|[before  mentioned,  and]  which  Kliyogg  inherited  from 
a  brother  who  had  ferved  in  Dutch  regiments  ;  gave 
our  philofopher  occafion  to  [renew  his]  remark,  "  that 
y^  there  is  nothing  more  hurtful  for  a  peafant  than  2  paf- 
*•  fion  for  books  ;  that  he  had  often  found  caufe  to  re- 

*  gret,  after  the  return  of  his  brother,  that  his  own  chil- 

*  dren,  by  means  of  reading,  had  been  led  to  forget  their 

*  occupations  ;  that  he  lamented  in  particular,  that  the 
*"'  children  of  his  brother  had  been  drawn  afide  by  fana- 
'  is^'  ■■  •     '  tics  ; 


THE  RURAL   SOCRATES,  157 

^  tics  ;  that  their  patrimony  greatly  fuffered  by  it ;  and 

*  that  tie  had  great  trouble  to  recover  them  from  their 

*  millake,  and  to  convince  them  that  labor  is  our  firfl 

*  duty  and   the  bed  means  of  obtaining  the  blefling  of 

*  the  Creator  ;  and  that  books  are  for  the  learned,  and 
'  the  plough  for  the  p^:^r?int.  Fanaticijm  in  religion^ 
^  he  continued,  ?>lvv'ay.i  does  the  peafant  harm  ;  troubles 

*  his  reafon   a  jd  confcience  ;  and  takes  away  much  of 

*  the  time  which  ought  only  to  be  confecrated  to  work^ 
*-  Often  the  party  expofes  himfelf  to  the  tricks  of  cth- 
^  ers  ;  and  iofiietimes  he  is  led  into  a  melancholy  h#bit 
^  of  mind  and  ends  by  forgetting  his  true  deftination  as 


p.  255 — 256.  Difcourfe  like  this,  clofed  our  phi- 
lofopher's  dinner.  We  rofe  to  vifit  the  reft  of  Kli- 
Togg's  farm.  And  we  certainly  found  parts  which  had 
not  yet  attained  the  perfection  of  which  they  were  ca- 
pable ;  and  particularly  the  orchard,  which  iurrounded 
the  houfe  :  but  it  is  difficult  for  a  peal  ant  to  do  all  at 
once,  particularly  where  he  is  obliged  to  execute  the 
principal  things  himfelf  and  finds  trouble  in  procuring 
proper  workmen  to  aflift  him  ;  which  is  the  cafe  with 
our  Kliyogg.  It  is  indefatigable  labor  only,  directed, 
upon  a  foiid  and  fteady  plan,  which  can  conquer  all 
difficulties. 

p.  256 — 258.  But  in  fpite  of  fome  imperfecllons  of 
the  orchard,  I  with  much  plcafure  law  pains  tak- 
en lo  colled  the  rain-water^  falling  from  the  houfc 
and  barn,  into  a  refervoir  in  the  court  ;  and  to  mix  it 
afterwards  with  the  filth  from  the  flables.- — Kliydgg 
had  dug  a  pit  four  feet  deep  and  as  many  wide,  the 
door  of  which  he  could  clofe  and  open  at  pleafure. 
When  he  difcovered  that  the  mixture  had  become  fuf- 
£ciently  putrid,  he  ftirred  it  all  through  ;  and  carried 
it,  by  means  of  little  canals,  upon  a  neighoring  mea- 
dow. At  the  bottom  of  this  meadow,  was  placed  anoth- 
er  refervoir,  which  colk<5led   the   remains  of  this  wa-^ 

tcr  ; 


i^e  THE  RUPvAL  SOCRATES, 

tcv  ;    from   whence  Kliyogg  conda<Sls  it  to  anothe;? 
jneadow,  after  keeping  it  _ur  refl  for  fome  weeks. 

p.  253.  Near  the  orchard  arc  fields  containing  about 
50  acres.  The  land  is  heavy,  bat  rifes  on  the  lides  to 
form  a  hill  towards  the  center  ;  which  being  compofed 
of  gravel,  ferves  when  diflrjbuted,  to  render  the  refl  of 
the  land  lighter.  Tliis  was  an  objedl  however  which 
was  not  to  the  tafte  of  the  children  of  Kliyogg*  who 
could  not  comprehend  the  ufe  of  fuch  a  mixture  of  foils  ; 
but  experience  here,  as  in  other  cafes,  conquered  their 
prejudices  and  repugnancc—Foiiowing  here  his  ufual 
maxim,  always  to  go  to  work  the  fliortefl  way,  Kliyogg 
dug  into  his  hill  at  two  different  places^tobc  able  todrefs 
his.  50  acres  fo  much  the  faller  with  it. — He  had  fiill 
100  acres  to  be  treated  in  the  fame  manner.  What 
a  perfpeclive  was  it  for  a  laborious  man,  thus  to  fee 
his  harvefts  in  a  train  of  increafing  year  after  year  1 — 
Fifty  loads  of  this  gravel  are  carried  upon  each  acre  y 
?.nd  to  quicken  this  work  Kliyogg  fcparates  with  gun- 
powder great  pieces  from  his  hill*  The  gravel,  in 
rendering  the  land  lefs  heavy^  renders  it  at  the  fame 
time  more  open  to  the  adion  of  the  feafons  ;  the  cold 
r=nd  heat,  the  rain  and  fnow,  and  the  air,  penetrating 
into  it  more  eafily  :  and  even  the  manure  has  more  ac- 
cefs  to  the  land,  when  mixed  with  gravel  5  and  weeds 
sre  thus  alfo  more  eafily  drawn  from  it. 

p.  61 — 267.  VVe  now  approached  a  meadow  upon 
the  Katzenbach,  of  about  20  acres  ftud  of  a  moift  tem- 
perament ;  which  afforded  a  new  proof  of  the  refblu- 
?:k)n  and  patience,  which  our  philofopber  employed  in 
improving  his  lands.  He  had  rooted  out  of  it  a  tliick 
licdo-e  ;  and  after  having  burned  it,  he  had  thrown  the 
afiies  over  the  whole  meadow.  Below  his  Jic/ds^  which 
border  upon  this  meadow,  he  had  dug  a  deep  ditch,  to 
colledlthe  water  running  from  them,  and  to  condu<fb  it 
flom  time  to  time  upon  difl^^rent  parts  of  the  meadow. — 
But  what  more  particularly  fcrved  to  water  this  mea- 
clow,  v/as  the  river  Katzenbach  ;  from  which   Kliyogg 


THE   KUKAL  SOCRATES.  359 

had  made  a  trench  with  infinite  trouble  and  difncalty. 
This  operation  was  conducftcd  with  a  degree  of  preci- 
fion  which  was  even  mathematical,  though  efFedccl 
without  any  mathematical  inflrument  ;  the  common 
fenfe  and  jiifl  eye  of  Kliyogg  alone  directing  him,  Sec, 

['n.  B.  From  p.  268 — 271,  obfervations  follow  on 
the  true  eye  pofTefTed  by  peaiants  : 

Alfo  on  the  rage  for  law-luits  which  ruins  £0  many 
of  this  clafs  of  people.] 

Kliyogg  now  condudcd  the  author  from  the  Katzcn- 
bach  to  his  vines,  p.  272 — 274.  The  manner  in  which 
Kliyogg  cultivates  his  vines  will  prcbabh/  (fays  our 
Swifs  clergyman,)  not  be  interefling  to  America  :  it  is 
therefore  not  given  for  tranilatlon.  p.  271 — 274.  All 
the  family  of  Kliyogg  wa.-^  occupied  in  his  vineyard. 
Here,  as  every  v/hereelfc  the  author  difcovered  impor- 
tant improvements,  feeing  on  evc.^y  (ids  thorns  and  bufii- 
es  and  hedges  entirely  rooted  up.-— The  fcite  of  a  hedge 
among  other  circumflances  offered  to  Kliyogg  a  fat 
earth,  of  which  a  part  could  be  carried  among  his  vines» 
But  to  increafe  his  means  of  drelling  his  lands,  he  cov- 
ered the  roads  which  led  from  his  houfe  and  from  thofc 
of  fome  of  his  neighbors  to  the  neighboring  mill,  with 
little  branches  of  trees  and  leaves  and  mofs  ;  which  be- 
ing trodden  upon  by  horfes  and  cattle,  and  mixed  with 
the  earth  and  mud  from  ditches,  is  excellent  for  vines  ; 
and  amounted  to  one  hundred  loads  a  year.— It  is  true 
that  Kliyogg  is  reproached  with  doing  much  hurt  to  his 
woods  by  the  great  number  of  leaves  which  he  ahvays 
collefe  from  them  ;  but  the  precautions  which  he  ufes 
on  this  occaiion,  and  the  vtvy  afp^eci  of  his  woods,  provs 
the  contrary. 

p.  275 — 276.  In  returning  by  tlie  rye- fields  of  Kli- 
yogg to  lee  his  cattle,  every  thing  manifefled  indefati- 
gable application  and  care,  and  much  reflexion  as  to 
what  regarded  agriculture. — His  children,  his  domei^ 
tics,  the  increafmg  fertility  of  his  lands,  with  his  (lock 
of  ivhcat  and  v/inCj  every  thing  in  fhcrt,  fhewed    the 

bleinno: 

MS 


l6o  THE   RUR.\L  SOCRATES- 

blsfung  with  which  Providence  had  favored  a  man  ful- 
filling with  cxadnefs  the  duty  of  his  ftation. 

p.  276  —  277.  Tiie  cattle  of  Kliyogg  were  well  fed  and 
attended.  He  pofTeflT^d  4  horfes,  9  oxen,  4  cows,  4  calves 
of  one  year  old,  and  as  many  of  two  years.  It  hence 
appears,  that  conformable  to  maxims  which  many  oth- 
ers alfo  confider  as  economical,  he  raifes  his  own  cattle. 
By  this  means  he  accuftoms  them  to  the  food  of  his 
farm  ;  whilft  cattle  which  are  brought  from  diftaut  pla- 
ces grow  lean  and  even  die,  folely  from  a  change  of 
their  food  ;  and  by  the  fame  means  alfo,  Kliyogg  pre- 
ferves  his  cattle  from  contagious  dileafcs,  with  which 
flrange  cattle  often  infe(5t  a  whole  flable, 

p.  277 — 280.  Knough,  remarks  the  author  here,  has 
been  faid  to  prove  that  Kliyogg  is  flill  the   fame,   and 
always  deferves  the  name  of  a  country  philofopher  :  But 
the  author  adds,  that  the  pliilofopluc  dream  which  he 
had  till  now  entcrtaiiycd,  of  having  all  the  family  of 
Kliyogg  united  in  patriarchal  concord  in  the  fame  houfe, 
he   had  found   himfelf  obliged  to   abandon.     Kliyogg 
hirafelf  was  indeed  the  firft  to  perceive  the  impoflibility 
to  execute  the  idea. — Already  his  fon- in-law,  the  faith- 
ful companion   of  Ills  labors,  had    quitted  him  ;  himfelf 
having  procured  for  him  a  farm  in  another  part  of  the 
country. — Difference  of  fentimenthad  given  caufe  for 
this    reparation.     The   fon- in-law  loved  work,  but  he 
loved  alfo  tliofe   pleafures  of  fociety  which    Kliyogg 
detefted.     Hans   alfo  thought  it  innocent  for  the   rich 
to  difHnguifli  theralelvcs   by  their   fine  clothes,  which 
was  contrary   to  the  mode  of  thinking  prevailing  in 
Kliyogg.     Hans  infjRed   likevvife,    upon  making  a  tav- 
ern of  the  houfe  to   fell  their  wine  to  the  beft  advan- 
tage ;   and  the  father-in-law  thought  a  tavern  would  be 
ti  fource  of  corruption  for  the  family  ;  conceiving  with 
reafon,  that  the  (Iriking  examples  of  intemperance  and 
other  vices,  with  fwearing  and  loofe  converfation,  to 
which  in  thefe  fitnations  his  family  would  neceffarily  be 
witncfsj  would  efface  front  th-:  minds  of  his  children  the 

good 


THE    RURAL  SOCRATES,  i6i 

good  examples  and  good  lefTons  which  he  had  always 
given  to  them.  In  effcdl:  he  foughl:  no  profit,  but  from 
iiis^nd  ;  and  for  this  purpofe,  he  employed  all  his  mo- 
ney to  mcreafc  its  quantity  and  its  produce.— Such  a 
maxim  conitantiy  led  to  new  labors  and  ferved  to  d'ive 
from  the  family  that  idknefs,  which  is  the  fource  of  ev- 
ery miichief.— Kliyogg  for  the  fan>e  reafon,  rep-arded  a^> 
aangeroiis,  all  riches  acquired  without  labor."  In  this 
opinion  he  was  coriHrmed,  by  the  cafe  of  the  rich  wife 
winch  his  fon  had  obtained  ;  for  notwithflanding  her 
good  difpofitions,  fliefcrvcd  to  prove,  that  riches  ibfren 
the  charaaer  and  infpire  a  tafte  for  exceites  in  drefs,  as 
well  as  for  the  luxuries  of  life  ;  and  he  faw  befides 
with  much  chagrin,  that  his  eldefl  fon,  who  was  fiill  a 
bachelor,  was  defirous  of  a  like  match. 

p.  280—284.  AJi  this  often  gave  room  to  wrm  di(- 
putes,  efpccially  on  the  part  of  the  fon- in  law  of  Kli'« 
yogg  ;  who  was  of  a  choleric  temper,  and  often  fiew 
out^mto  cruel  ironies  againfl   his  father  in  law. 

This  dlffenfion  was  increjifed  by  the  death  of  the  firfl 
\Knie  ofKliyogg,  who  had  always  contributed  to  pre- 
fervc  the  tamily-peace  ;  and  who  on  her  death-bed, 
gave  newteRimonies  of  the  pleafure  which  Trie  had  al- 
ways taken  m  conforming  heiiclf  to  tlie  will  of  her  huf- 
bano.~~It  was  after  her  death  that  the  fon-in-Iaw 
tnoiignt  himfelf  more  privileged  to  meddle  in  the  family 
and  oppofe  the  fingalarities  of  his  father-in-hw  ;  par- 
ticularly  when  they  brought  upon  himfelf  either  the  en- 
vy  or  fneers  of  his  neighbors.^This  was  a  new  reafoii 
for  Khyogg  to  take  a  feconJ  wife  ;  of  whom  mention 
rias  already  been  made,  and  who  appeared  to  Kliyo,rvr 
well  fitted  to  aflid:  him  in  governii^g  his  houiliokrco'Ii" 
forniably  to  his  antient  princioles.***  Kliyogg  now  fet 
himfelf  anew  to  convince  his  fons  that  poverty  diaion- 
orsnoone;  that  labor  and  good  morals  had  alone  ad^ 
yanccd  and  given  true  happinefs  to  his  family  ;  and  that 
It  ivas  oy  the  fame  means  only,  that  the  happinefs  of  it 
couiu  be  preferved.  His  fons  gradually  yielded  to  his 
^'^^  reafoninrrs 


i62  THE   RUKAL  SOCRATES. 

reafoningSj  and  bluQied  at  having  put  fo  many  obflaclcs 
to  this  fecond  marriage  ;  and  envy  had  the  mortifica- 
tion to  find,  that  Kliyogg  entirely  obtained  his  end. — His 
.new  wife  (hewed  the  bell  difpofltions  ;  and  while  (he 
followed  the  will  of  her  hnfband,  knew  how  to  gain  the 
compleat  affe<Slion  of  his  children ;  infomuch  that  the  eld- 
eft  fon  of  Kliyogg  married  her  daughter,  and  thus  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  folid  and  durable  peace.  This  fon 
(by  name  John  Gafper)  remained  more  faithfully  at- 
tached to  the  principles  of  our  philofopher,  than  all  his 
other  children  ;  his  refpeift  for  his  father  increafed  with 
years  ;  he  joined  to  this  the  mofl  tender  attachment  to 
his  younger  brother  ;  and  there  is  every  appearance 
that  one  day  he  will  become  a  fecond  KHyogg. 

p.  285* — 287,  We  have  already  faid,  that  to  avoid 
difpates,  Kliyogg  had  eilablinied  his  firfl  fon-in-law 
apart  from  him»  But  the  farm  which  he  had  procur- 
ed for  him  not  being  ofthe  beft  quality  and  being  oth- 
erwifemudi  neglccled,  the  undertaking  fell  particularly 
heavy  upon  him.  Nothing  could  fave  him  but  the  af- 
fiftance  of  his  father  in  law  :  and  his  father-in-law  was 
jiot  backv/ard  in  granting  it,  a^Stlng  with  a  gencrofity 
which  could  not  have  been  {urpafTed  even  if  Hans  had 
^.;/.r  ys  treated  him  wlih  the  mofl  tender  affeclion.  He 
gave  him  cattle,  corn,  and  wine  ;  and  lent  him  all 
his  credit.  By  this  means  he  helped  him  to  overcome 
his  obllaclcs,  to  lay  upfomething,  and  to  obtain  the  en- 
tire aps  robatioR  of  his  landlord.  Kliyogg  even  declar- 
ed, ''  that  v/hile  he  lived,  his  Hans  (liould  never  be  ru- 
'  ined  ;  that  Hans  had  f^metimcs,  it  is  true,  treated  him 
^  very  ill  ;  but  on  the  other  hand  he  had  afFi fled  him  in 
'  his  work  with  a  fidelity  and  zeal  worthy  of  praife  ; 
'  and  that  if  he  could  not  otherwife  gain  his  livelihood, 
'  he  fl^ould  come  into  his  houfe  again  w  iienevcr  he 
*  pltafcd.'*  It  was  thus  that  our  philofophcr  returned 
good  for  ill. — Such  virtue  was  not  without  its  re- 
ward.  Kliyogg  had  the  happinefs  to  fee  all  his  chi!- 
drcrv  well  provided  for   ^?vci7  thofc  cf  b's  fecond  wife. 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  16? 


p.  287.  The  prudence  oF  Kliyogg  would  not  have 
been  complete,  had  he  not  made  a  //^7//,  to  prevent  all 
difpute  and  diibrder  after  his  death,  for  which  he  could 
now  tranquilly  wait.  He  thus  faw  his  houfe  folidly 
founded  upon  two  ions,  who  are  likely  to  purfue  his 
niaxhus.  llie  ions  of  his  fecond  marriage  will  al- 
ways find  in  their  eldefl:  brother  a  Ibpport  cemented  by 
double  ties. 

p.  288.  That  which  affords  the  mofl  plcafurc  to  our 
old  man,  when  he  gives  himfeif  a  little  rcpofe,  is  the 
education  of  his  txvo  new  Tons  and  of  his  grandchildren. 
He  collcifts  them  about  him,  as  a  hen  colleds  her  chick- 
ens ;  and  they  love  him  fufficicntly  to  fiy  to  him  upon  a 
iingle  lock.  He  makes  them  read,  and  learn  parts  of 
their  catechifm  or  of  the  pfalms  ;  they  fay  their  pray- 
ers in  his  prefcnce,  night  and  morning  ;  and  he  alfo 
teaches  them  to  flng.  One  cannot,  without  being  af- 
fected, obferve  them  affembled  about  his  knees,  and 
finging  one  of  the  pfalms  of  David  with  him  ;  the  great 
devotion  which  he  (hews  on  his  fide  communicating  it- 
felf  to  the  little  ones.  He  does  not  forget  ^fo  to  in- 
fpirc  in  them  the  maxims,  that  they  ought  to  defpijc 
what  they  d)  not  gain  by  their  exertions^  and  to  regard 
f  ride  as  the  greatejl  of  human  follies , — When  the  author 
heard  the  children  ling  for  the  firft  time,  he  was  defir- 
oas  of  marking  his  fatisfadlion  by  offering  them  a  piece 
of  money  ;  but  the  children  perceiving  from  the  looks 
ef  the  grandfather,  that  he  thought  it  would  difgrace 
them  to  accept  it,  returned  it  immediately. 

p.  289.  *Yo  complete  the  account  of  thefe  little  chil- 
dren, it  mull:  be  obferved  that  Kliyogg  teaches  them  to 
break  in  and  manage  the  cattle  ;  and  often  occupies  them 
in  other  agricultural  works  which  do  not  exceed  thch^ 
age.  He  keepr>  by  preference,  the  company  of  theiit 
children  ;  thinking  that  he  daily  acquires  a  new  refcm- 
biancc  to  them  by  the  decline  of  his  own  flrength.  He 
therefore  cats  *.vith  them  at  a  fcparate  table. 

p.  290. 


M. 


x64  THE   RUP.AL  SOCP.ATES. 

p.  290.  As  the  education  afihefe  little  children  formj 
>ils  pleafurc,  lb  the  indiiftry  and  vigor  of  his  married 
children  makes  his  glory. 

p.  291  —  293.  The  inarcjuis  o^  Baden  Durlach^  \y\\\\ 
the  princes  of  his  family,  made  a  viijr  to  Kliyogg  in 
1783  ;  and  three  pages  are  accordingly  introduced  to 
/Tiakc  flattering  cornplin"ients  to  the  rnarquis  and  his 
(on.  The  marquis  conclnded  his  vifit  by  fiyingof  Kli- 
yogg,  that  he  v»' as  ^ /r:^^ /?^/ri^ri*/;. 

p.  294.  The  author  often  remarked  that  Kliyogg  dc- 
tcflcd  pride, — At  the  wedding  of  his  cldcji'iow^  his  Tons 
infjftcd  upon  going  into  town  on  horfeback  ;  which 
Kiiyogg  oppofed  with  all  his  might :  but  vvithoqt  efledl, 
rill  he  told  tiiem  with  firmnefs,  that  if  they  went  into 
town  on  horfeback,  he  v^ould  put  on  his  worlt  coat, 
and  run  by  their  fide  vvithhis  cep,  to  afKalms  for  them. 

' At  another  time,   having   fold   a  fattened  o>i, 

while  his  fons  and  fervanls  Rood  around  much  better 
drcffcd  than  himfelf,  he  faidto  the  butcher  who  bought 
it  ;  Yoii  fee  theie  rich  lords;  go  to  them  5  without 
f'oubt  tliey  have  more  fat  oxen  to  fell  than  1  have. 
This  fcnt  them  av/ay  confounded  to  their  work. 

p.  295.  What  our  philofopher  hated  no  Icfs  than 
pride,  wns  hypocrify  ;  and  c-rpecially  prayers  la  which 
the  heart  has  no  concern,  fie  never  fuffered  an  inci- 
dent of  this  fort  to  efcape  his  notice.  One  night  his 
Vv'ife  ufcd  the  6th  pfalm  as  a  prayer  ;  repeating,  with 
Davidj  ''  all  the  night  I  make  my  bed  to  fwim  ;  I  wa.- 
*•'  ter  my  couch.  Vv^ith  m:y  tears.'*  He  interrupted  her,and 
faid  fmiling,  "  and  yet  n'>y  wife  I  iet  nothing  of  this  ; 
^^  1  am  not  fer-.fiblc  of  it«"  But  he  did  not  en  this  ac- 
count the  lefs  fervently  rclpev^  religion  :  he  only  re- 
quired, that  the  Iicaft  c^^'  ''''"f  f7:ntdd  always  bcin  uui- 
fan  with  each  other. 

p.  296  —  297.  Tiie  foiiowii-.g  anecdote  may  fiicw  ths 
node  of  thinking  of  Kiiyogg  in  matters  of  religion. 
V\'l:en  fpeaking  of  (IriL^ncfs  in  fulfilling  the  duties  of 
O'^ir  flal'ion  !)en:  mode  uf  wo:  Hiipping  the  Deity  : 

^  h- 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  16/ 

lie  laid  once  to  our  author,  ^'  It  is  not  prof.t  th;it  \v^ 
'  niuflfearch  after,  if  wc  feek  the  divine  blsfling.  There 
*•  are  many  pcafants,  who  have  no  other  objecl'  than  to 
^  enrich  thcmielves  ;  and  who,  to  fucceed,  prefer  com- 
^  merce  to  the  labor  of  their  hands.     Not  content  with 

*  felUng  the  fifperfiulty   of  their  own  v/lieat  and  oxen, 

*  they  buy  wheat  ar,d  wine.  Sec,  from  other  pcafants, 
Mil  order  to  traffic    in   thefe    articles.     It  is  true,  that 

*  they  often  fucceed  in  aniaHing  confiderable  fums  ;  but 
'  work  foon  becomes  a  burthen  to  them  ;  ihey  even  per- 
'  mit  to  themfelvcs  fome  injuRice,  in  oider  to  fell  their 
'  articles  at  a  high  price  ;  which  does  not  fail  to  ccr- 
'  i-upt  their  minds  ;  efpecially  as  this  money  procures 
'  them  influence,  and^tlie  means  of  gaining  the  clergy 
'  and  their  judges.  Add,  that  the  defire  of  enjoying 
'  their  fortune  renders  them  lovers  of  the  table  and  otii- 
'  cr  pleafures  ;  and  alfo  proud  and  expenfive.  This  conir 
'  municatcs  itfelf,  as  a  contagion,  to  their  children  and 
'-  domellics  ;  who  imitating  their  example,  will  hats 
'  and  defpife  vi^ork  and  give  themfelves  up  to  idlenefs, 
'  and  become  proud  and  voluptuous  like  themfelves. 
'  By  this  means  the  fertility  of  their  lands  diminifhes  ; 
'  the  expences  of  their  family  increafe  ;  money  flies 
'  away  ;  and  diforder  and  confulion  following  in  their 
'  family,  a  general  derangement  occurs.  The  mifery 
'  here  becomes  the  greater,  becaufe  indolence  weakens 
^  the  bodily  flrength,  and  the  tafte  for  good  wines  and 
'  fi 5r  dcjicate  meats  becomes  a  fecond  nature.  Work 
'  then  mud  be  pnrfued  for  the  iake  of  work;  and  as  the 
^'  refult  of  a  renCt  of  duty,  and  in  order  to  give  pleafure 
^  to  the  beneficent  God  who  prefcribes  it  to  us  ;  and  at 
'  the  fame  time  every  effort  mull:  be  ufed  to  combat  the 
^  paffion  for  money,  for  pleafure,  and  for  luxury. — ^Such 
'  conduct  willfecure  the  divine  blefllng  ;  and  maintala 
^  our  confciences  pure  and  free  of  reproach." 

p.  298 — 300.   Here   Kliyogg  fpcaks  by   turns   as  an 
egotiH:,  a4;heologian,  and  a  moralifl ;  but  our  Swifs  cler- 
gyman omits  the  particular^.     The  author  then  con- 
'         '  '  elude:: 


A 


1 66  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

eludes  with  faying,  that  in  moments  like  thcfe,  be  has 
thought  hloiielf  in  the  company  of  Socrates  and  Epi<^e- 

tas. 

p.  i^->u  No  niisfortun.c  dcjedeJ  Kliyogg  or  drew 
from  hisTi  con:ij>lai»*ts.  TheypariySi  was  difaftrous 
to  his  crops:  In  the  autiunn  v/orms  had  made  great 
havoc  in  his  rye  :  and  in  the  following  fpring  during 
the  month  of  May,  a  froit  dedroyed  the  profpe^  from 
his  vines  and  trees  which  v»'as  very  promiling.  His 
Tons  were  deeply  afRicted  ;  bit  he  called  their  affli£lion 
ingratitude  towards  God  ;  as  they  had  fullicient  blefring3 
remaining  to  them  from  the  preceding  :iF)d  even  from 
that  very  year,  and  God  would  flili  be  bountiful  to 
them.  He  encouraged  them  therefore  to  low  a  great 
quantity  of  Uimmer- wheat,  WAthout  fuifering  his  mind 
to  be  troubled. 

p.  302  —  304,  Seme  pad'iges  from  Seneca,  D'AIem- 
bert,  and  the  P^lements  o^' politics  are  here  introduced, 
to  Qiew  that  Kliypgg  merited   ilic  name  of  a  philofo-^ 

pher. 

p.  305— 318.  In  thefe  thirteen  pages  Dr.  Hirzel  tra-, 
cesthe  portrait  of  a  good  prince  refembling  Kliyogg. 

p^  ^ig_2i9.  The  author  tinilhes  by  faying,  that 
whatever  traits  diflinguifii  any  man  held  as  excellent. 
they  vi^ill  all  of  them  be  found  ^llb  iu  Kliyogg. 


p.  320— 3:23.  Such  was  Kliyogg  as  long  as  Godprc- 
ferved  his  healih  and  flrength  ;  that  is,  .to  the  age  of  74. 
—From  that  period,  he  felt  his  bodily  powers  and  the 
vigor  of  his  mind  daily  diminifhing  ;  dangerous  humors 
colleftinginhis  body  ;  and  his  digelling  facuhies  becom- 
ing  deranged.  Having  fuifered  alfo  much  from  the  cold 
of  the  preceding  winter  (1784-5),  a  dropfical  complaint, 
which  increafed  from  day  to  day,  obliged  him^  finally  to 
remain  in  ills  bed,  and  announced  his  approachjng  death, 
—At  the  ^:^(lne^vs  of  his  Hcknefs,  the  author  dctermi 


mmed 


once 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  16; 

OI3CC  more  to  fee  him  ;  nnmciy,  on  the  Ji  Jane  (17  85  )  — 
It  was  on  that  fame  day  that  Mr-vSclnimacker^chamber- 
]ain  to  the  king  of  Denmark,  paid  the  author  a  vi[it. 
The  difcourfe  Toon  turning  upon  Kliyogg,  this  travel- 
ler learning  the  author's  intentions,  propofed  himielf 
for  the  party. 

p.  323.  Our  philofophcr  was  found  reduced  to 
a  condition  which  drew  tears  from  the  feeling  Schu- 
macker. — He  was  flretched,  in  a  (late  of  great  debility » 
Dpon  a  bench  ;  furroundcd  every  where  with  pillows^ 
He  raifed  himfelf  with  much  trouble,  in  order  to  fpenL 
to  his  vifitors  ;  and  to  tell  the  fufferings  which  he  had  un- 
dergone during  many  weeks,  but  from  which  neverthe- 
lefs  he  hoped  to  recover.  The  v^eaknefs  of  his  bodv 
had  made  much  impreilion  upon  his  fpirits  ;  he  was 
greatly  funk  and  in  bad  humor  ;  and  his  eycs^  which  for- 
merly fparkled  with  joy  in  his  converfations,  were 
moiflened  with  the  tears  which  conflantly  fcU  as  he 
fpoke.  It  is  true  that  he  ilill  repeated  liis  wife  ma::ims 
on  the  fubjecfl  of  the  too  great  luxury  of  fome  of  his 
ch'ldren,  and  the  too  great  avaiice  of  others,  bet  all  in 
a  lasPientablc  tone.  He  interrupted  however  this  dii- 
courfe  from  time  to  time,  by  dwelling  with  tendernefs 
on  his  httle  ones,  the  mofi:  intereRini};  companions  of 
his  old  age  ;  touching  upon  their  characler  and  talents 
and  other  circumftanccs,  with  tears  of  joy. — He  difco- 
vercd  little  fear  at  death  ;  and  when  the  author  fpoke  of 
ft,  he  faid,   "  1  have  a  good  confcience  ;   I  have  always 

*  'loved  equity  and  juftice,  and  have  truly  fulfilled  the 
'  duties  of  my  fiation.  Let  then  the  will  of  God  be 
^  done,  for  I  have  known  him  through  all  my  life  as  a 

*  God  of  mere}*,  who  has  loaded  me  v/ith  his  kindnefs  ; 
^  and  he   will    alfo    grant   m.e    his  favors   in  the  ether 

*  world." — Kliyogg  neverthelefs  wiihcd  and  always  ex- 
pe£led  the  re-eRabliihment  of  his  health,  and  the  return 
of  his  flrength  for  working.  The  rcnicmbrance  of  his 
long  ilinefs  was  however  fufRcient  to  throw  him  into 
^'*'*'^:^ — /^3  to  medicine  he  rr"-^-'^-:?    it  ::hogfnher  ;  {o- 

having' 


i68  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

having  taken  fome  from  the  medical  perfons  in  the  vil- 
lage at  the  beginning  of  his  malady,  without  cffc<^,  he 
abandoned  himfelf  folely  to  nature ;  ufing  only  a  few 
ipoonfuls  of  brandy,  night  and  morning,  becaufe  he 
thought  they  gave  him  fome  relief. — p.  326.  The  au- 
thor remarks  here,  that  he  had  often  obferved  that  the 
fpirits  of  adive  perfons  fuiTer  mofl  from  the  fentiment 
of  their   declining  flrength. 

Mnch  hov/ever,  as  the  author  and  his  companion  were 
:iiFe£l:ed,  they  obtained  fome  confolation  from  the  con- 
veriation  of  the  eideft  fon  of  Khyogg  ;,  who  led  them 
through  the  farm^  and  gave  an  account  of  every  thing 
with  a  clcarnefs  which  made  them  recognize  in  him  the 
worthy  fon  of  Kliyogg  ;  and  at  the  fame  time  convinced 
them,  that  the  complaints  of  the  father  againft  his  fons, 
were  too  much  the  refult  of  his  difeafe. 

p.  327.  Here  fays  the  author  to  his  correfpondent, 
byway  of  conclufion,  is  the  end  of  my  oblervations  on 
the  Rural  Socrates  ; — who,  during  a  longcourfe  of  time, 
has  occafioned  me  fo  much  pleafure  ;  who  has  fo  often 
encouraged  me  to  do  good  ;  and  who  has  given  me  the 
opportunity  by  a  defcription  of  his  charader,  of  contri- 
buting to  the  general  benefit,  Sec.  Sec. 


THE 


THE 


RURAL  SOCRATES, 


fmsm 
PART  THE  THIRD, 


SECTION    r. 


T'/ie  celebrated  Lavater  defer Ihes  Kliyogg^ 

X  HE  following  account  of  Kliyogg  is  hy 
Ihe  famous  phyfiognomift  Lavater^ ^  a  clergyman  of  thd 
canton  of  Zurich  in  which  Kliyogg  refided.  It  is  tranf- 
lated  from  a  French  tranflation,  being  originally  ex- 
t:ra^^ed  from  the  feventeenih  of  the  '-^  Pbyfiognomic 
Frao-ments*'  of  that  writer. 

''  If  Mr.  Hirzel  (fays  the  noted  Lavater)  had  no  oth- 
er merit  than  that  of  writing  his  peafmt-philofopher, 
or  rather  of  fmgling  out  and  manifefting  this,  man, 
who  was  fo  really  a  man,  his  deferts  would  have  been 
high.  Hence  1  never  \\c  Kliyogg,  without  returning 
new  thanks  to  Mr.  Hirzel  for  having  drawn  him  from 
his  obfcurity. 

'  There  are  few  men  whom  I  have  examined  fb  ri- 
goroufly  and  whom  I  have  obferved  on  fo  many  fides 
and  in  fo  many  different  fituations  as  Kliyogg  ;  and  I 
can  truly  fay  that  I  have  not  found  one,  a  (ingle 
one.  who   refembled  hi77ile.Jf  fo  much  in  all  points  ; 

^  one 
X 

*  The  a  in  the  fecond  fyllable  of  Mr,  Lavater's  n?me  is  pionounceil 

Oiort  amorg  hia-caantryfr.en,  the  S'^ifii, 


ijo  THE  RURAL  SOCRATESc 

*  one  vvh9  was  fo  Readily,  certainly,  evidently,  purefy, 
'  incQrriiptibly,  fubilantialJy,  all  by  himfelf  ;  wasabfo- 
^  hitcly  nothing  but  wliat  he  is,  and  defigned  to  be  ;  in 
'  iliort  was  fo  lingular  in  his  kind,  as  this  manj  who  is  in 
'  truth  to  me  incomparable. 

'  I  have  this  moment  read  the  new  edition  of  his  life  ; 

*  and  could  not  but  finile  at  the  palTagcs  where  the  Xe- 
'  nophon^  of  our  Socrates  has  CKprefled  a  feariof  being 
'  miflcd  by  an  exceflive  chthufiafm,  in  his  defcription  of 
^  fome  of  thofe  fine  fituations  in  which  he  has  feen  him. 
t  — Gan  there  be  need  of  excufe  infpeaking  with  warmth 

*  of  fuch  a  man  ?  None  of  all  thofe  w^ho  know  Kliyogg, 

*  can  venture  to  affirm   that  too  much  has  bv::en  faid  of 

*  him  ;  and  I  fiiall  be  pardoned  by  thofe  who  know  him, 

*  for  aflerting  that  it  is  as  difficult  to  defcribe  K4iyogg. 
^  with  the  "^^n^  as  it  is  to  re^i:c,%r>fe-his^nturci  with  the- 
^pencil.         _  .  -;:    •*' '      '" 

'  How  often  have  I  not  perruadcd  him  to  fit  for  mc 
^  to  be  painted  I  Three  of  ihe  bell:  portrait  drawers  and 
^  the  moil:  happy  in  their  likeneffes,  have  tried  their  ta- 
*-  lents  upon  him,  I  have  \:x^c<^  every  effort  to  have  him 
^  properly  exhibited  and  taken.     All  the  fl^etchcs  were 

*  eafily  known,  but  not  one  was  a  perfe<ft  refemblance* 
'  All  appeared- to  msraorc  or  lefs  Vv^antingin  eKpreflioit 
'  and  mind  ;  fothat  I  have  at  length  ablblutely  rcnoun- 
'  ced  all  hope  of  feeing  this  Inblime  countenance  rep- 
'  relented,  and  handed  down  ilsch  as  it  really  is  to  the 
^  univerfe  and  to  poilerity. 

*■  What  is  thus  faid  of  the   portrait-painters  of  KH- 

*  yogg,    raufl  equally   happen   to    thofe   who    iinder- 

*  take  to  trace  his  chara(f^er.     Whatever  Mr,   Hirzel 

*  has  faid  is  exacflly  true  ;  this  and  the  other  feparate 

*  feature  ftand  covreclly  ;  but  for  the  whole  of  the  pic- 

*  tupe,  it  is  only  Kliyogg  when  it  is  not  placed  near 
}  hiTS>*  Upon  the  comparifon,  who  mufl  not  have  been 
'  '■"-::^d  to  acknowledge,  tltat  Kliyogg  Ir.s   c''r"',"d  eve- 


u;a-o 


•fthc  rfa!  f^ocrarei?. 


THE  RURAt  SOCRATES.  17  x 

ry  kind  of  pencil  ? — I  nothing  blame  then  the  painter  ; 
and  as  little  the  hiitorian.  Few  can  more  highly  ci- 
teem  the  talents  and  merits  of  the  Istter  than  myielf  ; 
and  afTuredly  none  have  read  liis  book  with  mere  plea- 
fure.  I  may  even  add,  that  it  will  be  difficult  for  any 
to  feci  more  profoundly  the  truth  of  his  defcriptions: 
And  yet  I  mull  alfo  add  that  in  my  eyes  the  original 
is  above  the  copy  ;  or  rather  a  copy  of  fach  an  origi- 
nal is  impoflible.  I  mufl  at  tlis  lame  time  confefs, 
that  Mr.  Hirzel  has  defircd  to  be  an  kijlorian^  a-dd  by 
no  77icans  a  panegyrljl, — if  on  my  fide,  I  endeavor  to 
make  a  like  fketch,  1  perceive  tlie  fame  traits,  the 
fame  exprefliocs  occurring  io  myfelf  ;  as  to  this 
relpe(ri:3blc  biographer  ; — and  nevcrtkelcrs  I  venture 
upon  tlie  fame  attempt. 

*  I  never  found  my-felfnear  Kliyogg,  without  hsving 
his  prefence,  \m  efj'ergy,  produc-irig  in  me  a  kind  of 
fentiment,  fuch  as  my  heart  never  experienced  at  the 
fight  cf  any  other  man.  It  was  not  a  fentiment  which 
partook  of  the  wai-mth  of  enthufiafm :  it  v/ss  as  if  a 
faint  image  cf/V'/ii'^/  man  fought  to  acquire  life  and  dif- 
tinctnefs  in  my  bofom.  I  felt  gently  riling  there  an 
emotion  i'o  fingle,  fo  delicate,  ^^o  difficult  to  be  ^xpref- 
fed,  that  it  v^as  neither  refpec>,  nor  tenderncfs,  noi' 
even  friendlhip  :  it  was  a  (oft  expanfiori  of  the  foal  ; 
incorrupt  human  nature  which  penetrated  me  deli- 
cionfly  with  its  prefence. 

*  The  true  model  of  man,  in  all  its  fimple  unity — * 
before  me.  The  totality  of  man  the  cultivator  ;  the 
totality  of  the  cultivator;  of  man  difcngagcd  froni 
cares,  conilraints,  and  fubiervience  to  a  plan,  A  light 
without  dazzling  ;  a  v/armth  without  effervclccncc  ^ 
a  full  fentiment  of  what  he  is,  without  any  prcfump- 
tuous  egotifm  ;  a  confidence  in  himfelf  which  is  en^ 
l\r^^  but  without  pride.  An  inteile<fi:  in  no  degree 
brilliant,  in  no  degree  inquifilivc  :  but  fo  found,  io 
inaceeflible  to  the  corrupting  breath  of  prejudice,  ^o 
f<rm  -jain^  fedu'filonj  ihat  no  -gbyrinth  c?.n  miliead  it, 

^For 


17  2  THE   PvUilAJL  SOCRHTES. 

*  For  ev(^i'  amidri:  the  p.gilation  of  work,  and  yet  poiTef- 
^  fin^  thPcalni  belonging  to  rcpoie.  Full  of  a  noble 
^  impatience  for  action,  joined  to  a  polition  the  nioft 
'- tranquil  ;  and  conflantiy  confined  to  his  fpherc  as  the 
'  fun  of  his  own  vortex  and  fyliem. — How  delighifni  to 
^  fee  him  a(:l  !  His  franknel^  and  freedom  from  reftraint, 
*'  how  noble  1  How  he  abandons  to  you  his  whole  foul, 
*Vithont  perceiving  or  iufpe(fling  that  he  does  it.  How 

*  all   that   he   fays  goes   ilraight  to  its  objeiSl  !   Always 

*  gold  mixed  with  clay  ;  always  diamonds  frrez/ed  upon 
'  the  coaj  fcfl  fluifs  !  Ht*  olfers  conftanrly  one  and  the 
^  fame  whole  ;  nothing  flowing  except  from  this  whole  ; 
^  and  all  flowing  back  to  it.  How  the  niofl  trivial  things 
^  which  he  fays  are  in  him  and  from  him  :  How  they 
^  carry  the  imprefiions  of  his  individual  chara^^er  1  How 
^  ;ill  wliich  I  have  related  after  him,  in  fpife  of  all  my 
^  elforts  to  exhibit  it  truly, dias  never  been  what  1  have 
^  widied  to  relate  :  has  only  been  froth  taken  from  the 
'  furface  of  a  powerful  fpring  ;  a  body  without  a  foul  ; 
'  an  ordinary  prattle,  to  exprefs  the  things  which  with 
'  him  are  fo  naturally  original,  fo  little  borrowed  ! — 

*  How  certainly  is  he  for  nje,  a  fnre  thermometer  oftjie 
^  dlfccrnment^prohiiw  and  fund  of  humanity  ofthofe^  who 
'  frcGueiii  his  company  !  How  properly  is  he,  to  my 
^  eyes,  the  deputy  of  crfntinp  divinity  I  VVhat  praife  more 
^  true,  and  nevcrtheicf}  more  entire  and  complete  can 
'  be  beflowed  upon  Kliyogg  or  any  other  man,  than  to 

*  fay,  that  *-"•  his  mode  of  thinkings  his  words  a?2d  his  ac- 
'  'iions  are  always  in  the  viofl  petfeCi  harmony  :"  a  def- 

*  cription  which  is  here  as  correv^  as  it  is  maflerly. 

'A  word  or  two  more  as  to  his  phyfiognomy  and  his 

*  portrait." — Mr.  Hirzel  informs  his  reader,  that  his  eyes 
'*'  fcdl  ojftrc^and  his  countenance  of  which  the  jrefmicjs  and 
^  color  announce  his  good  conftitutio7i^  have  always  a  gay 
'  and  open  air^which  dtjplays  to  the  phyfiopnovinft  the  whole 
"-  beauties  of  his  character, — Eyes  which  are  merely  full 
'  n?  fire^  arc  not  precifely'the  hgn  of  a  line  mind  :  the 

'  au:lior  n.ould  certainly  mucl)  vatber  h;\vc  Caidjull  of 

'  Ihht  ■; 


THE   liURAL  50CRATES.  173 

^  light;  luminous  ;  and  it  is  the  fa£l  with  regard  toKli^ 
^  yogg*  They  are  neither  funk,  prominent,  half-formed, 

*  nor  very  open  ;  not  fo  open  as  in  the  print  of  hira. 
^  His  black  eye-brows,  which  bend  b2ck  upon  a  forehead 

*  which  is  neither  flat,  nor  oblique,  nor  too  much  round- 

*  ed,  nor  too  mucli  elevated,  nor  too  low  ;  become  hini 

*  wonderfully.    'His  nofe  has  an  extremely  {lender  out- 

*  line  ;  and  is  always  made  too  thick,  as  the  painter  pro- 
^  ceeds  in  copying  :  The  original  always  feemed  to  have 
^  it  more  pointed  and  delicate.  The  princelfes  of  Darm- 

*  Itadt,  fo  worthy  of  the  auguft  rank  derived  from  their 

*  birth,  and  who  were  lingularly  affected  with  the  ierene, 

*  open  and  natural  air   of  this  dear  man  ;  alfured  me, 
^  that  he  had  tlie  nofr;  of  their  illuftrious  mother  ;  and  I 

Vknow  not  whetherthis  excellent  princefs  or  Kiiyogg  is 
'  moft  honored  by  th?s  conformity. — I  here  inform  my 
^  readers  of  a  fa6t  colleded  from  an  infinity  of  obfcrva- 

*  tions.  Whatever  may  be  faid,  and  whatever  pleafant- 
^  ry  it  may  excite,  it  is  not  the  lefs  demondrable,  that  the 
^  Nofe^  confideredjingly  ajzd  independently  of  all  the  other 
^  features^  is  the  7770ft  important^  decifive^  ccnjpicuoiis  and 
"•  incapable  of  difgitije^  of  all  the  features  which  belong  to 

*  human  phyjiogyioiny^ , 

'  I  return  to  Kiiyogg.  How  expreflive  is  the  noble 
'  repofc  of  his  inimitable  mouth  ;  notwithftandlng  the 
'  tone,  far  too  hard  which  is  given  to  his  portrait,  it 
'  denotes  calm  innocence,  benignity,  prudence,  and  re- 

*  ibl ution. 

'  But  it  is  his  chin  particularly,  which  I  admire  :  an 

*  air  fo  manly  without  groifneis,  fb  refined  without  fub- 

*  tlety  ;  having  no  veftigc  cither  of  effeminacy  or  deli- 

*  cacy  ! — Kiiyogg  can  only'gain^  he  can  never  lofe,  in 
'  being  examined  by  the  eye  of  a  true  phyfiognomifl> 

*  All  the  indents, all  the  (hades  of  his  cheeks,  diffufc  over 

'his 

*  Dr.  GeJ<1e9,  the  fcriptare  critic  and  tranflator,  had  a  fyftern  of 
phyfiognomy  founded  upon  nofei? ;  which  he  divided  into  about  twcRtjr 
•lafies,  —The  celebrated  I'ln-seus  had  another  re fpe^ing  eye  brows,     %, 


174  "^^^^  RUR^L  SOCRATES. 

^  his  countenance  the  moft  h^rmcrnizing  exprefiion  ef 
^  gravity,  temperance^firninefs,  and  inward  tranquillity. 

*  His  car,  ftronjrly  marked,  with  it«'  roundings  and  out- 

*  lines,  finQ-ularly  ?r^'<'C5  with  thr  reft.'* 

[The  author  here  introduces  iome  obfcrvatlons  on 
the  defe^fls  in  the  print  of  Kliyoj^jr,  which  he  prefents  to 
his  readers  ;  bat  which  h  different  from  that  given  in 
the  French  edition  of  the  Rural  Socrates.  Unfortunate- 
ly the  prcfent  compila-tioa  lias  no  print  to  accompanv 
it.l 


S  E  C  T  X  O  N  11. 

J^re//i    7^e/7imof2ies    concerning  Kliyoj^^,     Dijcufjions  re-- 
fpeClin^  his  preference  of  Oxen  to  Hor/es^  and  his  pa^ 
trial  chal  Plans* 


The  Marquis  d^  Mir  ah  eau"^^    to    the   French  Ti  an/later. 

Paris,  Noveoiiber  8,  1762, 
*  ^  I  HAVE  been  charmed  with  the  Rural  SocrAtes^ 
The  reputation  of  this  work  is  cflablilhed  at  Paris  :  but  I 
have -only  my  own  lenliments  to  relate  at  prefent.  Let 
ine  thi^i  kfTure  you,  that  I  confider  it  as  one  of  the  mofi: 
tifeful   books  which  has  ever  been  piiblidied  ;  a  fuhlimc 

pre-eminence, 

*  Tl.is  noHerran  is  ih?  celebrated  author  of  that  excellent  work  Vamz 
iti  Hotttmfs^  OH  H'raUe  de  la  ptpulation  ;  [The  fiiend  of  men,  or  a  treaiiff 
on  popubtioc]  ;  which  has  btea  read  vviih  amazing  avidity  in  n.any  pirrsr 
of  Europe,  h  is  an  aimirablc  ^f)rmance,  and  greatly  defervcs  tlie  ar- 
leniion  of  this  country.  How  it>dlt:h  roore  deferring  a  tratiilatioi),  ihaa 
llic  frippery  works  we  are  fot'itj>?r  to  copy  !      Y, 

TIjc  Ma'O'Jis  de  iVJiribepn  ucs  f aher  of  the  famous  Cont^re  t^e  Mira- 
Kau,  arid  likewife  ot  ihe  Viconrire  de  Mird^ea^  ;  who  were  ftrenuouc 
aftors  00  dift'ercnt  fides  in  the  French  rcvoluiion.  The  Mirqnis  was  one 
of  ihe  principal  fupportcfs  of  the  E^hemeriitt  du  Citi^tn  ;.  a  Frensb  pc- 
sjodicaj  work  on  political  ec-'^nor;!^,     £. 


i 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  lyf 

^re-cminencc,  and  which  neceffarily  includes  the  quali- 
ty of  being  agreeable  ;  for  the  mind  muil  be  interellcd 
before  it  can  receive  iolid  inflriKftion.**^  "With  a  view 
to  what  was  agreeable  in  agricnllure,  I  bad  eniouragec! 
a  tranflation  into  French,  of  Thomfbn's  Seafons  :  But 
this  work  contained  mere  pictures  and  fcenes  of  imagi- 
nation. While  I  was  fearching  for  lomething  which 
had  in  it  reality  and  life,  I  found  the  R.ural  Socrates, 
which  more  than  arifwerefi  my  expectations.  It  con- 
tains an  example  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  the  moR: 
perfet^  and  rational  kind  of  hufbandfy,  and  of  the  moil:' 
noble  philo^>phy  and  moil  elevated  piety.— Kliyogg  is 
in  every  thing  r^y  hero.  How  do  all  our  petty  preju- 
3icesiliik  before  him  !  What  innate  dignity  I  exhibited  too 
in  a  man,  wflo  follows  no  ether  than  the  lavrs  diiTcated 
by  the  Supreme  Being ^  ! 

It  my  firustion  permitted'me  to  travel,  I  ihould  ea- 
gejlyleek  the  advantages  and  pleafure  to  bs  derived 
from  coHverfing  with  ibch  a  charat^er  i 

Perhaps  too  1  might  convince  him  of  the  benefit  (did 
his  foil  3]  d  extent  of  cultivation  admit  it)  of  ploughing- 
with  horfcs^  rather  thap  with  oxen ;  fmce  onV  of  mv 
plough  boys  with  two  hoVTes  wilL  turn  over  regularly 
*wo  acres  in  a  day,  v/hile  he  requires  tv/6  men  and  four 
,>en  to  do  only  the  half  of  this  in  the  fame  timef . 

I  would  inform  him  that  there  is  nothing  chimerical  irs 
his  idea  of  a  tribe  [or  ilheme  of  extenlive  famih/ 
union]  ;  lince  the  clans  of  Scotland  are  in  effed  of  this" 
defcriptiou. --If  it  diould  be  faid,  that  thefe  clans  founcV 
an  uninhabited  country,  in  which  to  fpread  themfelves  ; 
I  w^ould  then  inftance  the  Haut-p^nigis  of  St.  Omer  iu 
*rnnce  ;    u  ho  occupy  a    fubarb  in  a  great  city  ;    and 

*^*  who,. 

*v 

■"^  Many  who  toink  re]I|ion  rldlcuhus:^  of  cob rTe"  conceive  at  inconfidenr 
i:h  dignity  :  and  lo  die    teelings  ot    fuch  the  writcyr  aliades.     E. 

i  M.  i3e  Mirabeau  v^iil  allcvs^  me  to  aC;;!!  that  this  is  a  moft  rersiarlca- 
ble  rircomftancc  :  It  is  a  piiy  he  did  not  add  the  fjjl.  It  u  often  donar 
in  Norfolk,  but  only  in  the  very  light  fcils^  and  by  no  nneans  equals  o:  c 
acse in  hsavisr  lands.     Y. 


YlS  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

wbo,  though  living  by  commerce,  which  necefl^rlly 
mixes  them.  wit!i  the  world,  yet  i>y  their  rule  of  noc 
marrying  out  of  their  family,  have  preferved  their  lan- 
guage and  manners,  and  a  prudent  turn  on  which  their 
profperity  is  founded. 

But  as  an  example  Hill  more  approaching  the  plan 
and  courfc  of  life  of  the  worthy  Kliyogg,  I  wifh  to 
inform  him,  that  Pincou  a  cultivator  in  Auvergne,  had 
the  fame  idea  with  himlelf  on  this  llibje^l,  more  than  a 
century  ago  ;  and  that  having  married  his  four  chil- 
dren, he  enjoined  them  to  form  themfelves  into  a  tribe, 
and  to  maintain  inviolably  the  facred  band  of  family 
imion,  of  community  of  property,  and  of  integrity. — 
This  worthy  inflitution  has  lb  much  profpered,  that 
the  Pincous  have  not  only  a  principal  feat  of  refidencc 
in  the  mountains,  where  are  to  be  found  all  the  conve- 
niences of  life,  v»  ith  hofpitality,  and  even  handfome 
apartments  ^ov  flrangers  of  the  very  firll  quality  ;  but 
many  villages  of  which  they  are  foie  inhabitants  ;  and 
to  whic;  'hey  furnifli  the  curates,  lawyers,  and  other 
correfpo  iCiing  charoders.  The  necefiary  arts  of  life 
are  exercifed  in  this  tribe,  for  the  fupply  of  their  own 
community  in  the  firfi  infhince;  what  is  raifed  beyond 
being  fold  at  markets  and  fairs,  where  every  thing  com- 
ing from  them  carries  with  it  its  own  credentials. — 
Thefe  ai'e  p^irticulars  which  I  learn  only  by  report  ; 
having  in  a  journey,  which  I  made  this  fnmmer,  palled 
within  eight  leagues  of  this  remarkable  eftablhhment, 
without  knov.'ing  it.  I  fhould  however  have  turned 
back  in  order  to  fee  it,  and  to  obtain  the  whole  particu- 
lars ;  had  not  my  eftates  in  Limoufm  been  only  thirty 
leagues  from  the  fpot,  foas  to  permit  my  doing  it  at  a 
future  time.* 

With  relpe6t  to  the  family  which  you  mention  in  the 
Upper  Provence  t,  I  am  of  that  country,  and  yet  never 

heard 

•  More  will  be  faiJoftlils  family n 
^  See  p.  ^. 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  177 

heard  it  named, — Beiides,  it  fcems  that  we  have  rather 
to  inquire  refpedling  the  community  of  property  and 
of  interefis  in  inflitiuions  of  this  kind,  than  after  a  mere 
perfeverance  in  a  retired  life  ;  the  latter  bordering  on 
milery  ;  with  which  the  former  fcheme  has  no  relation. 
It  is  true,  that  Kiiyogg  fecks  to  found  an  order  of  mo- 
naftic  hufbandmen^\  but  nature  would  be.  the  bafis  of  it  ; 
without  the  aid  of  fanatic  mortifications,  or  other  vio- 
lent means,  which  are  always  fcducing  to  warm  and  fu- 
perftitious  minds,  ignorant  of  their  real  duties.  In  his 
project,  every  thing  is  fimple,  and  confequently  great  ; 
**  *  but  the  projefi  is  at  the  fame  time  fmgular,  and 
perhaps  not  fuited  to  the  conllitution  of  a  large  empire. 

The  Afifwer  of  the  French  Tranflator  to  the  Marquis  ; 
dated  Bafie^  Jcmuary  4,  1763. 

*  ^  ^  TJIE  bookfellers  who  had  the  copy  of  the  Ru- 
ral Socrates,  finding  the  firll  edition  nearly  fold,  propole 
a  new  one  ;  and  I  wi(h  to  make  fome  additions  by  way 
of  Supplement.  If  you  will  allow  me  to  include  your 
interefting  letter,  it  v/ill  be  a  valuable  accellion  to  the 
work.*  *  * 

*  *  *  It  feems  that  you  itientibn  only  one  point  of 
difagreement  with  Kiiyogg  ;  [namely  rcfpe<£ting  his  ox- 
en.] *  ^  *  Your  plough-boy  goes  through  two  acres 
each  day  v/ith  a  pair  of  horfes.  But  is  the  foil  as  labo- 
rious a§  that  of  Kiiyogg  ?  Kiiyogg  you  know  alfo  tellii 
•as,  that  four  oxen  coil  lefs  than  two  horfes  ;  includ- 
ing the  profit  upon  the  carcafes  of  the  .  oxen  when 
flaughtercd  ;  with  their  cheaper  keeping,  and  the  quan- 
tity and  quality  of  their  dung;  advantages  which  are 
not  to  be  overbalanced  by  their  flownefs.  —  i  know  that 

an 

*  The  original  fays  *'  Cemhites  Agrirulteurs**  or  cuhivators  llvirg  /« 
common.  M  )nk8  are  properly  peifons  living  u?:married  in  retirement. — 
The  wiifer  however  had  in  view,  perfons  who  lead  a  family  life,  but  rrix 
in  a  feleft  fociety  of  their  own  rf!Jarions, 

V 


irS  THE  RURAL  SOaiATES. 

an  article  in  the  Encyclopedie"^  gives  a  decided  prefer 
ence  to  hories  ;  and  that  your  opinion  adds  great 
weight  to  this  decilion.  I  admit  alio  that  the  fa6b  on 
your  fide  may  be  incontefiable  in  a  great  part  of 
France. — Yet  may  not  there  be  a  difference  in  Switzer- 
land ;  where  our  oxen  ieeni  much  more  powerful  and- 
active  than  in  France,  and  our  herbage  better  fuited  to 
their  conftitutions  ?  Our  caulc  alio,  when  fattened, 
bear  a  much  better  price  :  The  heft  of  them  being  driv- 
en as  far  as  Paris,  and  in  time  of  war  many  being  fold 
to  the  armies  ;  none  but  the  cattle  of  Auvergne  equaU 
ling  ihem.  On  the  other  hand,  the  food  of  horfes  is 
dearer  in  Switzerland,  than  in  France,  efpecially  oats. 
Perhaps  laflly,  our  horfes  require  extra  food  ;  at  Icafl:^ 
in  our  late  camp:iij>,ns,  I  obferved  that  the  Swifs  horfes 
in  our  regiment  fuifered  much  more  from  the  hard  die? 
to  which  tlicy  were  reduced,  than  thofe  of  other  coun- 
tries.*-^^^ 

Reply  of  tJiQ  Marquis   to    the  Fre?ich   Tra?iflaicr ;  dated 
Pans^'J'aruiary  25,  1763. 

*  *  *  I  AM  much  pleafed,  for  the  fake  of  the  public, 

that  the  fale  ofthc  P^^ural  Socrates  anfvvers  fo  well ;  nor 

do  I  apprehend,  that  a   feccnd  edition  has  occafion  for 

any  augmentations  to  give  it  equal  fuccefs. — I  have  al- 

vays  been  fcrupnlous  of  making  alterations  in  the  effays 

\  puWiih,  if  they  go  through  a  fecond  edition  ;  though 
-  •*  linly,  there  are  very  eifential  corre£iions  wanting  3 
:  :  'xample,  in  the  fequel  oi U Ami  des  Hormnes^  I  have 
t;f;;refly  conti'adifted  what  1  had  afTcrted  as  a  funda- 
jnentaj  orinciple  in  the  firfi: work  ;  namely,  '' that  pop* 
'•^  ujpt^ion  was  the  conjeqiteme  of  riches/'  I  was  fen- 
f;ble  of  my  ei-or  in  milL^king  the  caufe  for  the  ei?e6i:, 
and  have  fince  advanced  that  *'  population  was  the  origin 
*'  of  wealth." — The  method   was   fimple  and   eafy  to 

have- 

*  S9«  Cnlftrr  4t(  tetrth  In  il.c  oiigtn:4l  French  E^ic^^J^^^'^f*^ 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  ijf 

:tave  eftabliilied  this  latter  opinion  by  feme  Higlit  chan- 
ges ; — but  I  made  a  point  of  not  leflening  the  vahie  of 
the  book  to  the  firfl  purchafers  ;  and  have  invai  iably 
perlided  in  not  changing  the  leafl  fentcnce  in  vvoiks 
once  piiblifliedj  but  to  do  what  v/as  requifite  by  way 
of  appendix. 

The  latter  feems  to  be  vvlnt  you  intend,  inflead  of 
inferting  notes  in  the  work  itfelf. — I  (hould  be  glad  ifthc 
letter  I  didmyfelf  the  honor  to  addrefs  to  you, and  which 
you  are  defirous  of  printing  in  the  fupplement,  could  be 
of  any  weight  or  utiilty.  Such  as  it  is,  Sir,  you  are 
to  condder  it  as  your  own  2)roperty-,  not  mine. — I  have 
felt  it  my  dut}'-,  and  I  ought  to  adhere  to  it,  never  to 
print  any  thing  for  the  future  ;  but  it  would  give  me 
fatisfadion  to  write  any  thing  for  the  benerit  of  man- 
kind ;  and  that  fo  wortjiy  a  trullee  as  yourfelf  fiiould 
fiamp  a  value  upon  it.,  which  it  certainly  did  not  pofTefs 
when  it  quitted  my  hands. 

[n.  e.  M.  de  Mirabeau  here  proceeds  again  to  fpeak 
of  the  family  of  Pincous  or  Pignous  in  Auvergne  ; 
whofe  exiPcence  be  confijuis.  After  feme  remarks  on 
the  fubjecl:,  he  refumes  his  parallel  betvveen  oxen  and 
Iiorfes  ;  a  pirellel  which  Mr.  Arthur  Young  pronoun- 
ces unfatisfac^ory  ;  afferting  from  his  own  ^'  attentive 
"  experience,  that  two  oxen  are  maintained  mncl^i 
^'  cheaper  tlian  "two  horfes,  and  w  ill  do  equal  w^ork.*' 

The  following  extracts  only  thexefore  aie  added 
from  the  conchifion  of  the  letter.] 

I  am  yet  of  opinion  that  ic  would  not  be  of  advantage 
':o  Kliyogg  to  ufe  horfes  upon  a  fmall  farm.***  Thur» 
the  refult  of  all  our  rcafoning  Ml  is,  that  the  Rural  So- 
crates according  to  the  circumftances  of  his  fituation  its 
an  excellent  farmer  and  a  very  praife-worthy    citizen. 

***  Agricultural  queflions  however  arc  of  the 
greateil:  confequence  to  the  profperity  of  a  (late  5  and 
ofcourfe  to  the  multiplication  and  happinefs  of  the  hu- 
m-in i'pecies.  Experiment  and  calculation  are  the  grand 
iiails  of  true  agricultural  (cieiicc  ;  a  fcicnce  of  which  the 


iSo  THE   RURAL  S0CRATE5. 

dawn  at  prefent  manifefts  itfclf,  and  of  which  the  per- 
jPe6l  day  it  is  to  be  hoped  will  ultimately  illuminate  our 
poflcrity.  Till  that  period  fhall  arrive,  continue,  Sir, 
k  ftndy  which  renders  you  To  ufeful  to  mankind. 

I  experience  on  my  fide  a  iatisfa^tion  in  the  profpec^, 
^vhlchis  perhaps  greater  than  I  merit. —  I'hofe  charita- 
ble perfons  who  recommend  our  detaching  ourfelve^ 
from  this  world  v/Ith  a  view  to  becoming  more  perfetil, 
(and  in  which  generally  fpeaking  they  are  right)  ; 
tell  ua,  that  it  is  the  fame  at  bur  iafl  hour,  whether  we 
have  lived  many  or  few  years. — -Arid  this  is  true  for 
men  who' are  folely  occupied  with  their  pleafures,  or 
their  own  little  contradled  advantages  ;  for  to  them  the 
paft  is  nothing.  But  for  thofe  who  are  occupied  with 
the  good  of  others  ;  who  have  fowed  in  the  paft,  reap- 
ed in  the  prefent,  and  fee  new  fruits  dill  forming  ;  it  is 
highly  important  to  have  lived,  to  live,  and  to  hope  for 
longer  life;.  This  does  not  imply  that  they  will  be  fo 
wrapped  up  in  the  profpecl:  of  future  enjoyment  frorr> 
their  labors,  as  not  to  rcfign  the  fcene  quieliy  when 
called  away  from  it.  Their  exertions  and  the  pleafures 
they  derive  from  tiiem  have  a  foundation  independent 
of  their  fondnefs  for  life.  It  is  felf  love  which  defcending 
into  the  ton^b  with  its  An^Ttim,  regrets  the  pafl  which  is 
over,  as  well  as  the  future  which  flies  from'  it  :  But  the 
love  of  others  leads  us  to  dwell  with  delight  on  the  recol- 
lecT:ion  of  the  virtuous  ajfls,  which  fueh  a  fentiment  has 
infpired  ;  and  we  blefs  our  neighbors  when  we  quit 
them,  and  are  confoled  that  we  die  fingle  and  leave  oth- 
ers to  furvive  us. — This  then  is  the  bed  temper  of  mind 
to  recommend  to  beings  who  are  gifted  with  thought 
and  feeling,  but  are  formed  to  perifii.  You,  Sir,  are  in 
the  habit  of  pofielling  this  temper  ;  and  I  am  perhaps 
aiithorized,  but  certainly  intcrefled,  to  recommend  you 
to  perfid  in  it. 

Advcrti/einenl 


THE   RUKAL  SOCRATES.  i8i 


Advertifement  by  the  French  I'ranfiator, 

THAT  I  might  leave  nothing  omitted  (fays  the 
Tranflator)  capable  of  clearing  up  the  important  quef- 
tion  refpedling  oxen  and  horfes,  at  \^z9i  with  rei- 
pedt  to  Switzerland,  I  addrefTed  my  inquiries  to 
one  of  the  Swifs  mofl  worthy  to  contend  with  M. 
de  IVlirabeaii  ;  to  a  perfon  to  whom  antient  Greece 
v/ould  have  erected  flatues,  and  to  whom  thofe  of  his 
countrymen  capable  of  eflimating  his  m.erit  have  eredc- 
ated  flatues  in  their  hearts.  This  friend  of  mankind 
and  excellent  citizen  i.-.  M.  Tfchiffeli,  Secretary  of  the 
Supreme  Council  and  Vice-Prefident  of  the  Economical 
Society  of  Berne.**  It  is  to  his  excellent  views  and 
indefatigable  exertions,  that  the  latter,  which  is  one  of 
the  fineft  inflitutions  in  Switzerland  *  *  owes  its  cxifl- 
ence  and  active  principles.^  *j 

l^etier  addrcjjed  by  M.  Tfchiffeli  to  the  French  Tranjla- 

tor, 

ALL  the  obiervations  of  the  Marquis  de  Mirabeau  on 
the  contracted  and  difadvantageous  fcale  cf  hufbandry 
purfucd  by  our  Kliyogg,  may  be  reduced  to  this  general 
queftion — Is  it  more  profitable  to  plough  with  horfes  or 
with  oxen  ?  a  very  material  inquiry,  which  deferves  a 
thorough  examination  in  every  country,  diflrid:,  or  par- 
ticular eflate,  and  under  all  poflible  circumflances. 

The  autbxjrity  of  Monfieur  de  Mirabeau,  the  ^rfl 
genius,  perhaps,  of  the  age  in  comprehending  the  true 
principles  of  agriculture,  is  undoubtedly  of  confiderable 
weight  :  nor  can  any  perfon  have  a  more  exalted  re- 
ipe£t  for  that  nobleman's  knowledge  and  zeal  ioT  the 
good  of  mankind.  I  know  him  under  the  title,  fojud- 
ly  acquired^  oi  l^ami  des  hommes  [the  friend  of  men  :] — 
but  we  are  each  of  us  in  fearch  of  truth  ;  and  I  am  under 
rjo  apprehenfions  of  offending  him  by  differing  in  opin- 
ion on  a  capital  point  of  ?.griculture,  1 


jS2  THE  IIUKAL  SOCilATES. 

I  ellablifli  it  as  a  fundamental  rule,  wherever  th-2 
roads  are  not  exceflively  fliony,  nor  the  eftatc  extremo 
ly  deep,  that  it  is  of  more  general  advantage  to  ufe  oxen 
for  draught,  than  horfes  ;  with  iome  exceptions,  how- 
ever, where  the  trade  in  horfes  is  conliderable,  and 
that  in  horned  cattle  fcarcely  opened  at  all :  a  cafe  rare  in 
moH  parts  of  the  world,  and  ieldom  or  never  met  with 
in  Switzerland.^ — My  remarks  will  be  chiefly  confined 
to  that  country,  as  the  only  one  I  am  fufficiently  ac- 
quainted with. 

The  only  fenfible  advantage  of  horfes  over  oxeug 
cither  in  drawing  or  ploughing,  cbnfifts  in  the  greater 
Tigor  and  fpecd,  with  which  horfes  extcute  their  work, 
other  things  being  cqtial  ;  for  experierce  evinces,  that 
four  very  robufl  oxen,  forward  as  much  biifirefs  as 
four  horfes  indifferently  maintained  without  pats*,  ac- 
<:ordingto  the  cuftom  of  Ciar  peaf-ints. — But  other  'kings 
being  equal,  I  will  fet  ac  one  third  the  fuperior  fwift- 
nefs  and  vigor  of  horles,  that  is,  I  allow  four  liorfes  to 
do  the  fame  work  as  fix  oxen  ;  which  is  all  I  can  poflibly 
grant;  and  fome  laborers  of  good  judgment,  whom  I 
have  confulted,  vvill  ftarcely  admit  one  fifth  diifcrence. 
The  general  prcpofleflion  here  in  favor  of  oxen,  may 
perhaps,  account  for  this. — You  will  pleafe  to  obferve, 
Sir,  that  this  advantage,  however  great  it  appears, 
will  be  immaterial,  in  all  f^ums,  that  like  ours  m 
general,  are  too  fmall  to  employ  a  team  of  horfes 
thronghont  the  year.  Our  fortunes  are  too  contrad:- 
ed,  our  corn-countries  too  populous,  and  our  eftates  too 
dear,  to  admit  of  making  cxtenfive  purchafes.  Fifty 
acres  of  arable  land,  the  fame  quantity  of  meadow,  and 
pailurage  in  proportion,  are  with  us  confidered  as  large 
farms  :  there  are  very  few  of  greater  dimenfions.  Nay, 
k  is  found  by  experience, that  aneflate  of  that  fize  feldom 
produces  ir^orc  than   of  half   wliat  is  made  of  the  lame 

number 

♦  Horfes  maintained  uith.juf  oil* !  What  are  w«  X(y  undesfland  bj' 


TFIE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  183 

number  of  acr<*5  divided  between  two  or  three  occupi- 
ers.— If  there  is  not  fufficient  employment  for  draught 
horfes  upon  the  farm  all  the  year,  they  muft  either  be 
turned  upon  the  flubble,  or  ufed  iu  the  carriage  of 
goods  for  others  :  in  the  firfl  cafe  their  keeping  is  more 
expenfive  than  that  of  oxen  ;  and  in  the  fecond,  the 
plough-man  become  a  waggoner  is  on  the  road  to  ruin  * 
as  is  fatally  exemplified  in  fonie  parts  of  the  Pai's  de 
Vaud,  where  mifcrable  teams  of  hor(es  perifh  with  fa- 
tigue and  hunger  in  road  waggons.  The  manure  is  lofl 
:o  the  land  ;  the  plough  man  becomes  a  drunken  carrier^ 
*ind  is  quarreUbme  and  diflipated  ;  habits  very  improp- 
er for  a  hufbandman,  th^  bafis  of  whofe  art  is  temper- 
ance and  application, 

M.  de  Mirabeau,  in  Mis  letter,  computes  the  mainte- 
nance of  horfes  to  be  three  times  dearer  than  that  of 
oxen  ;  but  fays  at  the  i^ime  time,  that  the  expence  (hould 
firfl  of  all  be  dedudled  from  the  clear  prciic  of  what  he 
calls  the  great  culture  ;  which,  after  fuch  deduiftionSp 
he  ilili  makes  amount  to  more  than  ten  times  the  mo- 
ney that  has  been  expended. — But  he  will  permit  me  to 
fuggeft  the  impofTibility  that  fuch  luxuriant  crops  can 
be  the  eife<fr  m.erely  of  ploughing  with  horfes.  With 
our  draught-oxen  we  certainly  cut  as.  deep  and  equal^ 
furrows,  as  can  be  performed  with  the  befl  horfes.  We 
beftow  three. and  ibmetlmes  four  ploughings  upon  fallow 
lands,  and  ycry  often  two  [for  cur  fpring  fowings.]|^ 
I  very  much  doulDt  if  this  be  carried  much  farther  in 
France  ;  and,  perhaps,  there  is  not  any  country  in  Eu- 
rope where  the  (oil  is  more  carefully  cultivated  than  in 
Switzerland  ;  yet  our  harv^fls  are  vaflly  inferior  to 
thofe  the  Marquis  fpeaks  of.  It  does  not  feem  to  h^, 
to  the  nature  of  the  draught  ufed  in  the  plough,  bai: 
to  the  foil  and  climate  that  w^e  mull  attribute  the  caufe  :: 
and  if  the  fa£b  is  certain,  that  in  France,  after  the: 
deduftions  made  for  t^ic  expence  of  horfes,  the  clearpro- 
duce  is  ten  to  one  greater,  the  cheap  means  of  fattening 
sattle  mud  be  a*  dill  fartber  additional  projit  to  the  gra- 


84  THE  RURAL  SOCRATE<J, 


Our  manner  of  calculating  in  Switzerland  is  thus  .° 
The  fubfiflence  of  fix  oxen,  at  about  three  or  four 
5Tars  old,  does  not  cofi.  more  than  that  of  four  draught 
Lories*,  including  the  expence  of  forage.  Tliis  has 
been  tried  and  verified  by  a  thoufand  inftances,  ih  tlia'c 
every  thing  decides  in  favor  of  oxen  :  the  latter  are 
infinitely  lefs  delicate  than  horfes,  are  lefs  liable  to  dif- 
tempers  and  accidents,  and  arc  much  more  regular  in 
labor. — Eating  their  food  much  quicker  than  horfes,  is 
an  article  that  gains  tv/o  hours  daily  ;  one  of  which,  at 
lead,  may  be  employed  in  working. — As  our  land  is,  in 
general,  hot  and  gravelly,  the  manure  of  oxen  is  greatly 
preferable  to  that  of  horfes. — The  manure  of  hor- 
fes wafbes  and  evaporates  in  the  farm  yard,  and  field, 
more  fpeedily  than  that  of  oxen  ;  and  we  are  convinc- 
ed that  the  value  of  the  manure  of  cattle  exceeds,  in  gen- 
eral, that  of  horfes  a  fourth  pa?,  t,  and  fbmctimes  one 
half. — Thefe  are  no  inconliderable  advantages  ;  but  that 
which  far  farpaffes  them  all  is,  that  every  cultivator > 
who  has  the  leafl:  degree  of  underftanding,  may  an- 
nually make  of  every  team  of  four  oxen,  a  clear  pro- 
fit  of  61.  IIS.  3d.  or  7!.  17s.  6d,  fetting  their  food  in 
tjppofition  to  their  labor,  if  he  buys  his  beafls  at  three 
years  old,  and  fells  them  again  at  four,  there  is  altrtoil: 
an  abfolute  certainty  of  his  gaining  a  louis  and  half,  or 
two  louis  a  head.  This  advantage  may  be  extended 
much  farther  when  the  peafant  has  a  right  in  any  pub- 
lic paflursgc,  and  can  breed  his  own  cattle.  Whoever 
has  been  informed,  that  in  the  greatefl  part  of  Switzer- 
land, particularly  in  the  German  divifion  t  of  the  canton 

of 

*  This  is  i\  valuable  fad\  :  now  if  their  oxen  are  equal  to  thofe  I  ufed 
In  SufFwlk,  what  an  amazing  fuperiority'for  the  ox  culture  I  Thefe  points 
<)f  propoftion,  the  expenccsot  certain  pra(^iccs,  &c.  are  very  important  cir- 
cumUances,  as  it  is  upon  a  feled^ion  of  fuch  that  thefe  difputable  points 
can  alone  be  reconciled.     Y. 

l  SuiJzcrland  at  large  is  divided  into  the  German,  French,  and  Ital- 
ian diftritls  according  to  the  languages  prevailing  in  its  fcveral  parts. 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  185 

of  Benie,  a  pair  of  oxen  of  three  years  old,  that  have 
been  in  good  paflure,  commonly  fell  from  ten  to  fifteen 
iouis,"  will  not  be  furprifed  at  what  I  have  advan- 
ced. 

It  is  far  otherwife  with  horfes.  Befides  that  their 
price  is  iabje^Sl  to  very  great  and  frequent  variations^ 
there  is  great  danger  in  ufing  young  horfes  for  heavy, 
and  .conftant  labor.  The  ilightcft  accident  to  a  draught 
liorfe  may  be  a  very  fenfible  lofs  to,  the  farmer,  whilPc 
a  lame  ox  is  not  at  all  the  vv.orfe  when  fatted  for  mar- 
ket. Add  to  all  this,  if  the  farmer  ploughs  with  hor- 
fes in  their  full  vigor,  he  has  no  other  advantage  to  ex- 
pect than  during  the  time  they  can  work  :  He  finks  a 
large  capital,  which,  indead  of  proving  beneficial^ 
waftes  every  day,  and  is  reduced  to  nothing  at  the  end 
of  a  few  years.  All  thefe  confiderations  induce  our 
mod  judicious  cultivators  to  rate  the  advantage  of 
drawing  with  oxen  inflead  of  horfes  at  81.  ijs.  one 
year  with  anotherto 

Farther 


X  "^I'i^is  re.-t{jn;ng  is  fenfible  ;  and  as  it  coincides  with  cur  experience 
in  England,  on  this  comparifon,  there  is  the  greater  reafun  to  acknow- 
ledge its  juftnefs.  The  arguments  here  ufed,  are  the  iswi^  as  we  hear 
itioft  commonly  ufed  among  ourfelves  in  thofe  counties  uhere  oxen  ar^ 
3'et  worked. — Upon  the  whole,  this  comparifon  of  horfes  and  oxen  high- 
ly deferves  farther  attention. — The  Marquis  de  Mirabeau,  in  a  preceding; 
paper,  quotes  the  Encyclopedic  on  this  fuhjedi  :  I  have  read  the  rDemoira 
of  that  work  on  the  fubjeft  of  agricuhure  ;  they  are  extren^ely  fenfible, 
And  call  aloud  for  a  travjlatkn  into  Englijh.  Among  oiher  articles,  they 
contain  an  elabor^ite  comparifon  between  horfes  and  oxen  3  decided  in  fa- 
vor of  the  former.  This  comparifon  abounds  with  many  circumrtances 
very  curious,  and  throws  much  light  on  the  fubjed^,  and  at  the  fame  tim?; 
explains,  in  a  good  meafurc,  the  leafon  why  the  French  prefer  horfe*  fa» 
much.     y. 

N.  B.  The  Marquis  de  Mirabeau  not  only  refers  in  hi^  letters  to  the  ar- 
riclc  Culture  des  terres,  but  to  the  article  Ferm:(^  ;  both  of  xh^m  in  th? 
old  French  Encyclopedia.     E. 

.Z 


lU  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

Farther  Anecdotes  concerning  the  Family  q/^Pincou,  men- 
tioned by  the  Marquis  de  Mirabeaii^  collected  by  ths 
French  Tranjlator, 

IN  the  ymirnal  Economique  for  Detcmber  1755,  ^^'^ 
two  memoirs  on  the  origin  of  the  Pincou  family. — 1  con- 
ceive that  an  abftra£t  of  them  may  be  agreeable  to  thofe 
readers  who  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of  meeting 
with  the  journal.  The  fa «Sls  related  are  too  analogous 
to  the  hifiory  of  Kliyogg  for  me  to  fear  impropriety  in 
placing  them  together. 

*'  At  fome  leagues  diflance  from  the  town  of  Thiers 

*  in  Auvergne,  is  a  very  habitable  caflle  ;  the  feat  of  a 

*  fmall  barony,   called   Saudon. — About  four  hundred 

*  years  fince  it  was  purchafed  by  a  numerous  family  of 

*  peafants,  in  whole  polTeliion  it  has  continued  heredita- 

*  ry  to  this  day. — This  family  obtained,  at  the  fame 
^  time,  a  perpetual  difpenfation  from  the  pope  to  marry 

*  within  certain  degrees  where  marriages  are  otherwise 

*  deemed  unlawful.  Such  a  mark  of  confideration  is  a 
'  proof  of  the  virtuous  regulations  that  then  fubfifled 
'  amongfl  thefe  honed:  people  ;  and  like  wife  of  their 
'  apprebenfions   of  relaxing  their  difcipline  and  man- 

*  ners,  jQiould  they  marry  out  of  their  own  family* 

'  They   have  a  tradition,  which  carries  their  origin 

*  much  higher ;  namely,  that  eleven  hundred  years  ago, 

*  one  of  their  anceflors,  a  man  of  great  wealth,  the  fa- 

*  ther  of  a  numerous  progeny,  and  advanced  in  years, 
'  gave  his  children  to  underftand  :  '*  That  their  way  of 
*'  living  mufi;  be  greatly  diminiihed,  if,  after  his  death, 
*^  they  (hould,  as  was  cuftomary,  divide  his  fortune  in- 
*'  to  feparate  portions  ;  and  that,  if  they  were  defirous 
''to  be  wifer  than  the  generality  of  men,  they  mufl 
*'  live  in  the  fame  united  flate  as  under  his  parental 
*'  roof.*' — They   did    not  fail  to  raife  many  objcdlious 

*  to  tljis  propofal  ;  and   the  mod:  weighty  one  was,  the 

*  privation  of  an  authority,  fuch  as  he  had  exercifed,  and 

*  which  his  fuperior  wifdom  rendered  fo  refpcdable. — 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATE?.  itj 

^  He  had  forefeen  and  guarded  againil  all  the  difficulties 
'  they  feared  ;  and  replied,  that  good  inftitutions,  firm- 
^  ly  adhered  to,  would  defend  them  from  all  inconvc- 

*  niencies  capable  of  fruflrating  their  fchemc. — The  fa- 
'  ther  compofed  a  code  for  the  ufe  of  his  children,  which 
^  they  mofi  cordially  accepted,  and  ever  fmce  have  re- 
'  ligioufly  obferved. 

^  By  thefe  laws  ^he  whole  parental  authority  devolves 
'  to  a  general  afT^bly  of  the  family.  This  afTembly  dif- 
'  cuITes  their  various  interefis,  applies  remedies  to  their 
'  grievances,  and  decides  what  meafures  are  moR  eligi' 
^  bJe.  A  man  is  not  admitted  to  thefe  deliberations  till 
'  he  is  twenty  ye-ars  of  age.     The  afTembly  appoints   a 

*  prefident  to  take  care  of  the  money,  to  fign  refolutions^ 
'  and  to  condudl:  affairs  in  o^eneral  ;  but  he  is  reilrained 
'  to  the  difpofal  often  piJioles  3  beyond  which  fum  the 
^  alfembly  mud  determine. 

'  They  never  require  of  the  prefident  an  account  of 
^  his  adminiflration  ;  nor  have  they  ever  repented  this 
^  fingular    confidence. — Their    great  maxim,  and  the 

*  foundation  of  all  their  rules,  is,  an  implicit  reverence 

*  for  their  own  family  ;  which  is  inftiiled  in  infancy. 

*  This  principle  is  characterized  in  many  anecdotes. — 

*  Their  fecond  maxim  is,  never  to  foar  above  their 
'  original  rank. — Thus  thePi^nous,  which  is  the  fami- 
^  ]y  name*,  have  never  varied  from  other  peafants  in  the 
^  articles  of  drefs,  food,  and  lodging.  They  are  call- 
'  ed  by  their  chriftian  name.  The  prefident  alone  has 
'  the  title  of  Mr.  :  they  call  hiin  Mader  Pignou. — All 
^  follow  the  plough  with  their  laborers. 

'  The  children  are  educated  in  common  without  any 
'  di{lin<ftion,  by  a  woman  intruded  with  the  care  of 
'  them  to  a  certain  age.  She  has  alfo  the  fuperintcnd- 
'  anceofthe  dairy,  and  of  the  fervants  belonging  to  it. 

'  The  family  rules  extend  to  domedics,  who  are  to 

*  be  prefent  at  morning  and  evening  prayers,  and  to  be 
^  regular  in  the  praclice  of  all  Chridian  duties.        '  If 

*  M.  de  Mi rabeau  calls  ii  Pincou  ;  bat  I  fnppofe  Pignou  is  the  pJO™ 
vtoclal  way  of  founding  it.     F.  • 


i88  THfe   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

'  If  any  of  the  younger  branches  of  the  family  happen 
^  to  detach  themlelves  from  it,  they  receive  a  proper 
'  dividend  of  the  public  money.  It  generally  happens 
'that  thcfe  repent,  and  are  defirons  to  return;  — but 
^  this  is  a  hopeJefs  wi(h,  and  againfl  the  rules  of  the  So- 

*  ciety,  which  allov/s  no  re-adniiffion  to  thofe  vv-ho  once 

*  abandon  it. — NotwithRanding  a  great  dccreafe  by 
'  ficknefs  for  fome  years  pa fl,  tliere  yet  remain  eight 
^  heads  of  families.  ■       ^ 

*  The  Pignous  make  the  niofi:  laudable  ufe  of  wealth, 

*  They  are  charitable  to  the  poor  and  hofpitable  to 
^  firarigers  :  they  are  beloved,  refpetSled,  and  admired". 
'^  — Many  noble  families,  as  well  as  thofe  of  peafants, 
^  have  unfuccefsfully  attempted  to  imitate  their  rule  of 
^  life.  The  former  have  turned  the  fchcme  into  parties  of 
'  pleafiire  ;  and  the  latter  have  found  it  impradicable  to 
^  arrive  at  that  point  of  union  and  profperity  which  dif- 

*  tinguiflics  the  family  of  Pignou.— Undoubtedly  none 

*  of  thefe  have  laid  the  fame  permanent  foundation  for 

*  the  happinefs  they  were  in  icarth  of,  in  piety,  bene- 
^  volence,  difmtereflcdnefs,  fimplicity,  and  attachment 
"  to   buiincG ;  qualities,   without  which  it  is  impoffibre 

*  to  form  a  happy  fuciety^  or  procure  peace  and  comp^- 

*  tence.  . 

'  Several  intendaiits  of  the  province  have  gratified 
^  their  curiohty  in  vifiting  the  Pignous. — M.  le  Blanc, 
'  fince  fecretar  y  at  war,  dined  at  the  caflle,  was  honor- 
'  ably  entertaicv^d,  and  infilled  on  Mafter  Pignou's  prc- 
"  Tiding  at  t?bic.  Deligh.tcd  with  their  manners  and 
^  cuitoms,  he  made  a  recital  of  them  to  Louis  XIV. 
'  Some  time  after  Mafler  Pignou  being  obliged  to  go  to 

*  Paris  on  various  butlnefs  ;  he  paid  his  compliments  to 
^  M.  le  Blanc,  who  prefchtcd   him  to  the  King.     Louis 

*  afla'd  him  fevcral  qucilions,  and  was  fo  charmed  with 
'  his  replies,  that  he  ordcied  that  the  tax  of  the  Pignous 
*■  fhould  never  exceed  fix  hundred  livres  ;  and  made  hifn 
^  n  prcfcT/i  to  defray  ihc  crspcncc?  of  his  journey." 

Thefc 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  J  89 


Thefc  are  the  mod  interefting  particulars  in  ihcfirjl 
memoir. — The /^rc;?.-/ differs  from  it  in  ieveral  articles. 
It  is  true  they  were  written  in  different  years  ;  the  lirft 
being  dated  in  1739,  and  the  fccond  being  a  recent  ac- 
count ;  hut  this  does  not  lufficientjy  explain  the  varia- 
tion.— Kow  much  is  it  to  be  wifhed  that  the  Marquis 
de  IVIirabeau,  or  Tome  other  friend  to  human  nature, 
would  take  the  trouble  of  receiving  exa<5l  and  circum- 
flantial  information  on  the  fpot,  of  ail  that  relates  to 
this  extraordinary  family  1  The  public  would  cfteem  it 
nn  invaluable  prefent. — In  expelling  that  pleafure,  I 
(liall  give  the  purport  of  ihtjecond  inemoir, 

^  ThcPignous,prop:etors  of  Saudon, about  half  a  league 
'  from  Thiers  in  Auvergne,  have  lived  there  near  th.ree 
'  hundred  years.  Their  common  eftate  brings  in  more 
^  than  two  hundred  thoufand  franks  ;  confifting  of  mea- 
'  dows,  vineyards,  arable  land,  and  other  heritages. 
*■  But  they  have  no  lordfliips  or  manors,  excepting  the 
^  fief  of  Saudon,  which  is  of  fmall  value. 

'  This  family  has  branched  into  four  divifions,  who 
^  live  together  within  the  fame  buildings.  There  are 
'  never  more,  nor  lefs  ;  for  they  keep  in  the  family  only 
'  thofe  who  are  defigned  to  intermarry  and  fucceed  their 

*  parents  ;  whilil:  the  refl  of  the  children  are  fettled  in 
'  the  adjacent  villages  with  a  fortune  of  21I.  17s.  6d, 
'  The  daugliters  have  alfo  a  cheft  of  linen,  and  fome 

*  houfhold  furniture  of  fmall  value,  fuch  as  peafants  rc- 

*  quire  ;  the  Pignous  not  being  in  outward  appearance, 

*  different  from  their  laborers. 

'  The  maRer  is  the  only  man  amongfl  them  who  wears 
'  leathern  fhoes. — The  women  wear  them,  becaufethey 
^  never  work  in  tTie  field.  There  is  particular  care  be- 
*"  flowed  on  the  education  of  thele.  They  are  maintain- 
'  ed  in  a  convent  at  the  general  expence,  till  they  are  of 
^  an  age  to  become  fettled.  If  it  happens  that  one 
^  branch  of  the  family  has  only  a  daughter,  who  is  con- 

V  fcquently 


190  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

*  fequently  heirefs  to  one  fourth  part  of  the  eflate,  they 
'marry  her  to  the  fon  of  another  branch,  to  keep  up 
'  the  number  of  their  chiefs. 

'  They  take    care  early    to  imprefs  their  children 
'  v/ith  fiich    a    reipecl   for  their    family    and    for    its 

*  inflitutions  ;  that  there  has  never  been  an  inftance  of 
'  any  of  the  chiefs  entertaining  the  nioft  diflant  idea  of 
/  feparating  from    the  commnniry  ;  nor  of  any  of  the 

*  fons  or  daughters,  vvlio  have  left  the  cafile,  defiring 

*  any  addition  to  their  fortune,  finall  as  it  is. — About 

*  forty  years  ago,  the  widow  of  one  of  their  chiefs,  who 
^  had  an  only  daughter,  was  folicited    to  marry  fome 

*  gentleman  herfclf,  as  a  means  of  eflablifhing  herdaugh- 
'  ter,  in  a  manner  fuitable   to  her  large  fortune.     This 

*  worthy  vvoman  anfwered  in  her  provincial  diale*^, 
'  that  flie  never  could  confent  to  put  fuch  an  indignity 
'  on  the  family  and  cufloms  of  ihe  Pignous  I 

'  Though   property   is   equally  divided  amongd    the 

*  four  chiefs,  the  principal  authority  refts  with  the 
^  mafler,  who  is  chofen  from  the  other  chiefs. 

*•  The    cafile   is   large,  but  the  apartments  are   fur- 

*  niilied  in  the  moll  plain  and  humble  manner. — M.  de 

*  la  Granville,  who  was  travelling  that  way,  flopped  at 
'  Mailer  Pignou's.  Some  of  his  company  were  for  ad- 
^'  vifing  the  mailer  to  furniili  at  leail  one  apartment  elc- 
^  gantly,  as  a  mark  of  diilinction  ;  but  the  intendant, 
^  v/ifer  than  they,  demonflratcd  to  them  that  fimplicity 
^  was  effential  to  fuch  an  efiablidmient  ;  and  that  when 
'  once  they  made  a  diflin6tion  in  apartments,  it  would 
^  foon  be  follov>'ed  by  other  innovations  which  would  in- 
'  terrupt  the  happinefs  of  this  little  republic. 

'  The  Pignou  family  are  remarkably  bountiful  to  poor 

*  travellers,  who  are  cordially  received,  fed^  and  even 
'  lodged,  if  they  chance  to  be  benighted.  They  alfo 
'  receive    well    all     vifitants,    providing    the  bell    en- 

*  tertainmeut  in  their  power,  according  to  their  rank  ; 
'  which  makes  them  excerdingly  honored  and  elleemed 
'  in  the  province  j — Aiwl  what  rvl-iflcr  Pignou    decides 

"  ^  in 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  191 

'  in  any  controverfy,  pafTes   in  general,  with  the  pea- 
*■  fants,  for  an  infallible  decree." 

I  cannot  (fays  the  French  Tranflatoi)  forbear  com- 
municating the  judicious  reflexions  of  my  journaliftjWith 
which  I  (hall  conclude. — "  We  (liould  accufe  our- 
*'  felves/'  fays  he,  "  if  we  neglected  to  recommend  to 
"  obfervation,  thefe  folid  efFc(ri:3  of  economy  and  order  : 
''  fuch  as  the  plenty  it  procures,  the  concord  it  main- 
''  tains,  the  tranquillity  it  beftows  !  By  its  influence, 
"  labor  h  foftened,  jealonfy  extinguifned,  equality  rei- 
^^  tored  1  What  extraordinary  bleflings  may  we  not 
^'  hope  from  it,  in  intelligent  and  enlightened  perfons 
-'united  upon  the  fame  principles  3  prodiu^ive  of  fo 
^'  much  good  even  amongfi  fimple  peafants  1  What  an 
^'  acceflion  of  opulence  and  flrenglh  to  a  :Rate,  to  have 
'*  a  colleclion  of  thefe  fmall  republics  formed  wittiiw 
^*  itfelf  !  A  manly  and  fublime  fimplicity  would  fucceed 
*'  to  effeminate  luxury  :  moderation,  the  daughter  of 
^*  indufliry,  would  treafure  the  riches  thus  acquired  ; 
*'  and  mankind  would  at  lafi:  be  convinced,  that  the 
*'  mod  infallible  means  to  defy  poverty  is  to  renounce 
^'  opulence,  and  to  fly  from  the  immoderate  ufe  of 
*'  what  we  pofTefs.  Children  educated  in  thefe  max- 
"  ims,  would  renew  that  purity  of  manners,  of  whicl! 
*'  the  lofs  is  more  to  be  regretted  every  day  ;  \yhU{t  the 
*' earth  cultivated  by  their  innocent  hands,!  would  no 
*'  longer  difappoint  chimerical  expeiTcations  by  its  (ic- 
*'  rility.  Surely  we  have  better  motives  than  the 
^'  terrible  confequences  of  a  revolution,  to  bring  vv, 
^^  back  to  nature  i'*' 


Anecdotes 


J92  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 


Anecdotes  of  the  Family  of  Fleuriot,  knoiun  in  Lor" 
raine  by  the  Name  of  Valdajon  ;  by  the  Count  de 
TrejQTan  ;  with  an  hUroduciion  and  Remarks  by  the 
French  Tranjlator, 

THE  piece  before  us  is  by  the  Count  de  TrefTant.— 
In  reading  the  Rural  Socrates,  he  recoliedVed  the  feve- 
ral  particulars  of  a  journey  he  took  feme  years  iince, 
from  a  dedre  of  gaining  a  peifec^t  information  concern- 
ing a  family,  of  peafants,  as  philofophical,  and  perhaps 
even  yet  more  to  be  refpe6led  than  Kliyogg  ;  afid  whofe 
character  and  inftitutions  peculiarly  aife6led  the  ienfibil- 
ity  of  M.  de  TrefTan. — He  not  only  paid  due  deference 
to  the  work  of  M.  Hirzel  ;  but  the  friendQiip  with 
which  he  honors  me,  palliated  the  imperfections  of  my 
tj;aif{lation  ;  nor  did  he  difdain  to  oblige  me  in  the  fol- 
lowing memoir,  with  a  parallel  to  the  Rural  Socrates. 

^  A  league  and  a  half  from  Plombieres,  in  that  part  of 
*  the  Voiges,  which  borders  on  Franche  Comte  a  pretty 
'  extenfive  valley  is  formed  by  feveral  openings  betwixt 
'  the  hills,  which  has  a  chearful  appearance,  and  fliews 
'  the  {kill  and  alTiduity  of  the  cultivators. 

'  Thefc  conlill  of  a  fingle  family,  who  occupy  four 
'  or  five  houfes  :  they  are  brought  up  in  the  flime  prin- 
'  ciples ;  they  are  governed  by  a  chief  chofen  out  of 
'  their  body  for  his  age  and  wifdom  ;  and  are  incef- 
^  fantly  employed  in  ailifling  the  public,  in  educating 
^  their  children,  in  comforting  the  diftrelTed,  and  in 
^  tilling  the  ground, 

'  This 


+  Lieutenant- General  in  the  French  fervlce,  Governor  of  Bitche  nnd 
German  Lorraine,  lord  chanmberlain  of  the  houdiold  to  the  Polilh  King 
Stlniflans,  and  member  of  the  academies  of  feiences  at  Parisi  Berlin,  Lon- 
don, Edinburgh,  Nantz,  Metz,  &c.     F. 

The  Count  dc  Treff^n,  W2J  a  friend  of  Voltalre'fi  and  a  poet.  He  died 
at  an  advanced  ogf,     E, 


THE  RURAL  SOCRATES.  193 

^  This  family,  whofe  name  is   Fleuriot^  is  better  dil^ 

*  tinguifhed  by  that  of  Valdajon^  given  to   the  country 

*  and  village  which  it  inhabits. 

'  For  many  years  paf>,  the  chiefs  have  principally  (lu- 
'  died  that  part  of  furgery  v/hich  refpeds  fradures  and 

*  d'tjlocations ,  Repeated  cures  have  added  reputation 
^  to  their  knowledge  ;  whild  remarkable  piety  and  ex- 
'  emplary  charity  havejuRly  acquired  them  the  charac- 
'  ter  of  virtuous  men. 

••  The  moft  peculiar  iriodcfty,  the  fincerefl:  fraternal 
'  tcndernefs,  are  confpicuous  in  the  manners  of  this 
'  happy  family  ;  which  is  nov/  fufficiently  numerous  and 
'  remote  from  its  common  ftock   not  to  be  obliged  to 

*  contra(^  foreign  alliances.  . 

'  The  late  Duke  Leopold^,  touched  with  admiration 
'  for  the  virtues  inherent  in  the  Fleuriots,  and  fenfible 

*  that  every  part  of  their  condud  merited  a  Civic  Crov/n, 
^  and  that  they  had  proved  the  greatnefs  of  their  fouls 
^  by  the  mod  difintereflcd  beneficence  ;  was  defirous  to 
^  ennoble  them. 

'  The  families  aflembled ;  and  the  heads  of  them  were 

*  unanimous  to  return  their  grateful  thanks  to  their  ^o- 
*-  vereign  for  the  honor  he  intended  them,  but  declined 
'  the  acceptance  of  it.  "  Our  poflerity,  (laid  they,  in 
*'  an  addrefs  equally  wife  and  dutiful)  may,  perhaps, 
*^  fee  objedcs  in  a  different  light  from  ourfelves  ;  intox- 
*^  icated  with  the  pride  of  nobility,  they  may  difpenfe 
''  themfelves  from  the  duty  of  relieving  the  poor  ;  de- 
**  fpife  the  cultivation  of  their  eflate  ;  the  bleffing  of 
^^  heaven  will  no  longer  profper  their  undertakings  5 
*^  difcord  will  divide  them  ;  and  ihey  will  ceafe  to  be 
''  happy." — '  They  refufed  a  patent  of  nobility  ;  but 
^  that,  traced  in  thsir  fouls,  has  always  remained  indel-= 

*  iblc  ! 

'  The 

*  One  ri  \\\t  Lorra'.ne  famtly  :  a  family  (ince  united  to  the  AuQrUn 
Toval  faini?y,  'Xht  \%\t  Qreen  of  France  fprang  froti?  ibe  united  hcufes,  E, 


194  THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

*  The  curejf  performed  by  the  Fleuriots  are  alntoft 
^incredible,  and  have  often  excited  envy. 

'  The  firfttime  I  was  at  Plombieres,  i  informed  my- 

*  felf  particularly  of  what  related  to  them  ;  and   as  I 

*  ccfmmanded  in  that  part  of  Lorraine,  it  was  eafy  for 

*  me  to  invefligate  the  truth  of  all  I  wanted  to  know. — 

*  Some  with  whom  I  converfed,  talked  ofthe  Fleuriots 

*  with  as  much  regard,  as  admiration  ;  whilfi:  a  very 
^  fmall  number,  who,  I  thought,   ought  to  have  under- 

*  ftood  the  fubjci^t  heft,  feemed-^defn-ous  to  varniOi  with 
'  fuperftition  and  ignorance  the  procefs  of  the  Fleuri^ 

*  ots  in  their  furgical  operations.     Truth  appeared  to 

*  me  cleareft  in  the  mod  favorable  reports  : — I  regard- 
'  ed  it  then  as  an  honorable  duty  to  examine  fadi^s  with 

*  my  own  eyes,    and  to  take  pi-oper  precautions  not  to 

*  be  deceived. 

'  As  I  have  always,    at  leifure  hours,  made  anatom.y^ 

*  one  of  my  ftudies  ;  I  underftood  enough  of  it  to  dii*- 
'  tinguidi  real  fcience  from  impoflure. 

'  I  went  to  Valdajon  privately,  with  only  one  attend- 

*  ant,  in  a  plain  drefs  ;    as  a  fir  anger  whom  chance  had 

*  brought  to  their  habitations,  I  flopped  at  one  of  the 
'  fird:  houfes,  and,    on  my  entrance,  every  thing  I   faw 

*  edified  and  affecfted  me.— It  is  with  difficulty  I  refrain 
'  from  defcribing  the  neatneis  and  regularity   of  each 

*  article,  with    the  obliging  manners  of  the  inhabitants. 

*  True  hofpitaliry  Hiewed  itfelf  in  its  mod:  natural  and 

*  touching  forms. 

^  My  objetTt  being  to  know  the  degree  of  information 

*  ofthe  more  flcilful  among  them,  in  an  art  founded  on 
'  afccrtained  and  corre<^  principles  ;  I  had  no  fooner 
'  refrefhed  myfelf,  and  noticed   with  admiration  what- 

*  ever  refpedled  their  rural  economy   and  domeflic  go- 

*  vernment  ;  than  1  a(ked  if  thv?y  had  any  books.    They 

*  anfwered,    that  their  principal    books  were  depofited 

*  in  a  neighboring  houfc,  occupied   by  an  aged  chief  of 

*  the  family.     Being  condniiled  thither,  I  was  received 

*  by  a  rdpe(^able  oldman,  who  under  a  ruAic  form 

'  pofleiFed 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  195 


'-^•pofreiTed  foft  and  poliflied  manners.  As  I  found  no 
'  difficulty  in  beginning  my  convcriation,  I  aiked  him  what 

*  principles  he  had  lludied  in  his  art.  ''  Good  book^, 
*'  nature,  and  experience,  (he  replied)  were  the  only 
*'  mailers  of  my  anceftors  ;  I  have  no  other  ;  and'  the 
*'  fame  fyfteni    will  pafs   to  our  children."     He  then 

*  opened  a  large  cabinet,  plain  in  itfelf,  but  rich  by  the 

*  furniture   it  contained.     I  found  in  it  the  befl:  books 

*  in  furgery,  antient  and  modern  ^  fkeietons,  male  and 
'  female,  of  four  or  five  different  ages  ;  other  fKeletons 
'  taken  to  pieces  and  the  parts  thrown  indilcriminately 
'  together,  in  order  to  be  united  by  an  exercifc  of  fkill ; 
'  and  laftly,  curious  models  to  fl^ew  the  mufcular  fyf- 
'  tern. 

''  Here  (faid  he,)  we  teach  what  is  nccelTary  for  the 
*^  relief  of  our  fellow  creatures.  We  inllrucfl  our  chil- 
"  dren  to  read  and  to  underhand  what  they  read.  Thofc 
"  of  them  who  have  the  turn  for  it,  know  thefe  bones 
"  and  mufcles  before  they  are  ten  years  old  ;  and  after 
'^  feparating,  can  join  them  again.  Here  is  a  large 
"  prefs  filled  with  bandages  and  ligatures  proper  for 
"  different  cafes,  with  tickets  to  mark  them. — Our 
''  children  are  taught  early  alfo  to  j<.  in  practice  to 
*'  theory  ;  and  on  mis  occafion,  the  goats  yon  ice  feed- 
"  ing  and  even  our  dogs  are  made  the  vic^tims.  The 
''  very  a^^s  of  cruelty  exercifed  on  thefe  victims  extin- 
"  guiihes  however  the  prujciple  of  cruelty  ;  for  we  en- 
*'  courage  oar  children  to  feel  for  the  cries  of  thefe  ani- 
"  mals,  and  to  cheriflithem  under  their  futferings  ;  and 
*^  they  foon  learn  to  heal  their  wounds*.  Such  are  the 
^'  leiTons  I  received  ;  fuch  are  thofe  w.c  teach  ;  and  ihc 
'•  bleiTing  of  God  has  attended  our  endeavors." 


♦  Such  pain  (hoold  only  ht  inflidled  on  aniirals,  "where  it  is  probable 
vhat  it  will  lead  to  a  fuperior  good  eiibcr  to  ncen  or  the  brute  crea- 
tion. EKperitnenta  here  without  an  ohjed,  or  iradc  more  dilhcflang 
Csa  is  needful  :  ate  crimes  againft  the  God  of  nature,    E. 


ig6  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

*  I  aril  unable  to  cxprefs  the  tendernefs  and  refpedk 
^  with  which  I  was  penetrated  at  this  moment.  I  em- 
^  braced  the  virtuous  old  man.  I  made  myiclfknovv^n 
*-  to  him  ;  and  intreated,  if  he  defigned  to  give  me  plca- 

*  fure,  that  he  would  acquaint  me  how  1  could  be  of 
^  life  to  hiiTirdf  or  to  lonie  one  of  his  family. 

'  He  pointed  to  the  houfes,  fields  of  grain,  and  gar- 

*  dens,  which  lurrounded  us-  '^  The  profpedt  before 
^^  you  (faid  he)  fupplies  our  wants  ;  and  Providence 
''"  having  blelTed  our  labors,  we  have  even  Tome  means 
*'  left  for  comfoiting  the  wretched.  Every  thing  be- 
*'  yond  what  is  needful  for  our  fmall  expences,  would 
"  be  ufelefs  :  it  might  even  become  pernicious,  by  ex- 
*'  citing  inordinate  defirts  in  our  children.  But,  Sir, 
^'  you  have  the  happincfs  to  be  in  liigh  office  near  our 
^'  dear  and  auguft  fovereign  :  Deign  to  tell  him,  that 
*'  all  our  fcveral  families  lift  their  prayers  to  heaven 
''  for  the  continuance  of  his  precious  life  ;  and  that  the 
*^  Fleuriots  will  always  endeavor  to  be  ufeful  to  the 
*'  diflrefTed,  that  they  may  be  ranked  among  the  bed 
^'  fubjecls  of  the  mofl  beneficent  of  all  monarchs*.'' 

^  If  a  relation  were  required  of  multiplied  compound 
^  fra(n:ures  cured  in  the  fame  patient,  I  could  furnilh  not 
^  only  one,    but  many   accounts   ;   for  which  I  could 

*  vouch  upon  the  evidence  of  my  own  eye-fight. 

'  The  Marquis  dc  Voyer  and  M.  de  St.  Lambert, 
^  whofe  abilities   and  information   are    fo   univerfally 

'  known. 


*  Stanifiaus,  then  Ex-King  of  Poland,  lit  kept  his  throne  while 
Chhile.-i  XII.  of  Sweden  was  in  power  ;  but  afterwards  gave  way  to  the 
beaer  fojtunes  of  King  Auguftus  II.  who  was  fupported  hy  the  Rii(lian.«. 

His  daughter  wa$  married  to  Louis  XV.  of  France.  By  her  influence 
he  was  not  only  allowed  to  retain  his  tills  ;  but  had  Lcrraine  given  to  him 
to  govern  for  iife.  He  fucceedcd  fome  of  tlie  melt  popular  piioces  in 
that  country  that  have  been  known  any  ivhere  in  modern  times,  and  add- 
ed one  to  the  number.  He  was  the  oflenfihle  author  of  the  CEui^res  d^un 
phiiojophe  hievfaifimfy  puhiifhed  in  4  volumes  8vo.  and  not  only  did 
n-.ucfsgood  in  Lorraine,  but  ornamenied  it  with  /everal  buildings,  which 
are  well  known  lo  iravelkrs.     E. 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES. 

*  known,  have  had   the  fame  curiofity  refpcctifig:  this 
'  family  with  myfelf,  and  will  certify  the  fame  faTcs. 

'  As  to  the  agriculture  of  the  Fleuriots,  I  give  no  de 
'  tails  on  the  fubjed.     It  will  eafily  be  prefumed  that, 
'  pcrfons  lo  prudent  and  well  inftrucled,  have  the  fame 

*  fundamental   principles  with  the  able  and  induflrious 

*  Kliyogg.     A  parallel  betw^een  them  would  neverthe- 

*  Icfs  do  honor  to  humanity,  and  furnifli   excellent  lef- 

*  fons.     Perfons  of  reflexion  and  fenfibility,    in   fhort, 

*  will  alvvaj's  with  eagernefs  p^y  a  jufl  tribute  to  men 
^  as  yet  fo  rare,   but  whofe  example  requires  ib   much 

*  to  be  imitated/ 

Remarks  by  the  French  Tranjlator, 

Who  is  there  poffcffed  of  the  leafl  fentiment,  ou 
whom  the  above  charming  relation  does  not  make  a 
deep  impreflion,  and  who  does  not  feel  interefted  in 
every  particular  which  concerns  the  Fleuriots  I 

In  the  Journal  Economique  for  December,  1755, 
p.  76,  we  have  the  means  of  gratifying  perfons  of  this 
defcription,  by  an  interefting  letter  written  by  M.  de 
Morand,  dodlor  regent  of  the  faculty  of  medicine  at 
Paris.  His  teflimony  alone  would  be  decifive  on  the 
fubjed:,  if  we  have  need  of  tedimony  after  that  of  the 
Count  de  Treifan.  It  is  true,  that  this  celebrated 
phyfician  did  not  fee  all  which  was  viewed  bymy  illuflri- 
ous  friend  \  but  he  faw  the  mofl  ejGTential  parts,  and 
with  the  fame  eyes.  He  renders  confequently  the  fame 
juflice  to  the  fkill  of  the  Valdajons  (cr  Fleuriots  ;)  and 
was  alike  llruck  and  enchanted  with  their  fimplicity  of 
manners,  their  ftyle  of  life,  their  food,  and  their  drefs. 

'  Content  (fays  he)  with  their  lot,  they  confine  them- 
'  felves  to  pure  neceffaries,  and  rejetft  whatever  is  ufe- 
'  lefs.  At  home  they  live  like  (imple  peafants  ;  eating 
'  rye-bread  and  bacon,   and  ufing  water  for  theh^  only 

*  drink.     They    arc  always,  one  or   other   of  them, 
^  abroad  \  but  never  go   out  on   horfe-back,  and  will 

•  never-  ' 


1^8  •  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

*  never  return  hom^  in  a  carriage.     Gold  and  wealth  in 

*  general,  vain  phantoms  of  happinefs,  have  no  effe(St  on 

*  their  minds.     They  have  often  refufed  two  or  three 

*  'louis-d'ors  from  the  rich,  as  a  pay  too  ample  ;  taking 

*  from  theiTi  only  one  or  two  crowns  at  the  moft.  Ev- 
'  ery  Tnefday  they  attend  at  Kcmiremont,  and  on  other 

*  days  at  Plombieres  and  other  places  :    having   fomc- 

*  times  forty  poor  patients  in  one  ipot,  with  traftures  and 

*  maims  ;  whom  they  vifit  and  drefs,  gratis,  or  without 

*  regarding  whv^t  is  paid  to  them.     Ofrentim.es  they  fup- 

*  ply  their  patients  with  money  to  enable  them  to  rettarn 

*  home. — They  give  them  alfo  their  ointment  ;  which 

*  is  their  fok   fecret  and  treafure.     They  affirm   that 

*  the  receipt   of  this  belongs  to  their  family  ;  it  is   an 

*  outward  application,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Val- 

*  dajon  ointment.     This  remedy  is  in  much  eile-em  in 

*  Lorraine  ;  being  relolvent  and  good  for  the  nerves, 
^  having  qualities  at  once  foftening  and  corroborating. 
^  It  is  prefcribed  by  the  family  in  cafes  of  bruifcs,  flrains, 

*  diflocations,  and  fractures,  and  alfo  for  wounds  where 

*  there  is  danger  of  mortification  :  It  gives  eafe  likewife 

*  in  the  pains  of  gout  and  of  rheumatifm*  It  is  fimply 
^  fpread  on  linen,  without  being  foftened  with  heat.' — 
£Thus  far  M.  Moraud, — We  now  return  to  our  French 
Tranflator.] 

"Who  (fays  the  French  Tranfiator)  after  feeing  the 
example  of  the  Kliyoggs,  the  Pignous,  and  the  Valda- 
30ns,  can  retain  a  doubt,  that  Dr.  Hirzel  had  theflrong- 
€i\  reafon  for  nfiirming,  that  the  clafs  of  peafants  as 
inuch  delcrves  the  attention  of  the  philofopher,  as  any 
^ther  whatever.  ^  ^K^j^Let  the  true  fage  who  is  friendly 
to  humanity  feck  after  men  who  are  truly  virtuous  ;  let 
h\m  follow  theiu  into  their  obfcurity,  and  into  the  claf- 
fo  which  to  the  boalfed  world  of  faihion  feem  the  mofl 
abjecfl.  He  will  there  certainly  find  many  a  Kliyogg,  a 
Pignou,  and  a  "V^aidajon,  at  prcfcnt  unknown  ;  for  true 
.virtue  fhuns  inTpet^ion,  and  confhnlly  remains  attach^sd 

to 


THE   RURAL  SOCRATES.  199 

to  that  ftate  of  fimplicity  which  fomc  difdain  to  exam* 
Inc.  But  a  difcerning  man  will  negle<fl  nothing  to  draw 
f uch  charadlers  from  their  retreat  :  he  will  go  like  the 
Count  de  Treflan  to  vifit  them  in  their  cottages,  or  like' 
Dr.  Hirzel  to  feek  them  at  their  plough.  He  will  be 
eager  to  make  known  their  virtues  and  their  good  ac- 
tions ;  not  in  order  to  flatter  their  felf-love,  for  fame 
in  their  eyes  is  no  bleffing  ;  but  in  the  hope  that  *  *  if 
examples  of  vice  make  fo  many  guilty  and  unhappy,  a 
contrary  effed  will  be  produ<:ed  by  inRances  of  virtue. 


SECTION   III. 

AJMtiGftal  Particulars  in  the  Character  and  Seni'vme fit's 
of  Kliyoggy  communicated  by  a  CorreJpo7ident^. 

'■''•  SINCE  I  know  what  ufe  you   defign  to  make  of 
^  Kliyoggt,  it  feems  necefTary  to  ftate  certain  points  i.i 

*  Ms  chara(^€r,  which   can  never  {^v\'q  for  imitation  in 

*  Zurich,  but  Avill  not  the  lefs  do  him  credit,  **  or  pre- 

*  vent  his  ferviug  as  a  model  for  the  cultivators  ofAmer- 

*  ica.     In  all  the  civilized  parts  of  Europe,  man  has  ve- 

*  ry    Haiited    enjoyments   ;     no   more  than   the   mere 

*  portion  which  cannot  be  ravifhcd  from  him  ;  a  portion^ 

*  n^cefTarily  (lender  in  a  country  like  Zuirich,  where  the 

'  population' 

*  Thefe  particulars  are  contained  in  a  letter  written  in  1795",  to  tfe 
editor  of  this  compilation,  for  the  purpofe  of  being  inferted  in  this  place. 
The  original  being  in  German,  the  tranllation  is  here  given  horn  a  French 
franflation. 

The  author  of  ihe  letter  is  a  citizen  of  Zurich,  well  known  for  his  ta- 
lents, and  who  has  been  noticed  on  this  account  hy  naoie  than  one  fove- 
reign  power  in  Europe.— It  will  appear  that  he  was  lirtle  fatisficd  with 
the  antient  conftimtion  of  his  canton  ;  and  it  may  be  fufpefled,  that  he 
attributed  to  Kliycgg  fomc  of  his  own  feelings  ia  more  than  one  ref- 
pea.     E. 

+  Namely,to  paMifh  the  prefent  compilation  refpe^Ing  himp  in  t^« 
tJnited  States  of  America,  in  the  fitflinn^nrf,     E, 


foo  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES, 

'  population    is  fuper-abundant,    and  the  government 
'  meddles  in  the  mofl  minute  concerns'^. — To  do  juflice 

*  then  to  the  merits  of  Kliyogg,  we  mufl  confider  him 
'  as  independent  of  circumftances. 

'  The   civil  and  ecclefiaftical  conflitution  of  his  vil- 

*  lage  was  entirely  contrary  to   his   principles  ;    and  he 

*  ftrnggled  againfl  ir,  with  all  the  warmth  and  finccrity 
of  his  nature.  -He  confidered  morality  and  human 
happinefs  as  founded  not  only  upon  an  indefatigable 
zeal  for  bullnefs,  but  upon  fmiple  truths,  purified  from 
ufelefs   and   foreign  dodrines  ;  ***  for  he  difliked 

'  much  of  what  was  taught  in  the  fchools,  and  even  by 
*-  the  clergy  of  Zurich. 

^  He  carried  to   great  leDgtlis  the  maxim,  that  man 

*  ought  to  fband  upon  his  own  bafis,  without  yielding  to 
companions  or  neighbors.  He  was  alarmed  at  the 
meeting  together  of  perfons  who  were  Grangers  to 
each  other;  and  affirmed  that  men  grew  worfe  when- 
c   er  they  remained  in  each  other's  company  without 

*  rcc nidation.     In  this  view,  he  clafTed   under  one  de- 

*  f::ription  all  afTemblies  at  church- doors,  taverns,  mar- 
kets, town-halls,  fchools,  and  military  reviews  ;  fay- 

^  ing  that  in  thefe  cafes  men  wei^e  fure  lo  unlearn  fome- 

*  thing  which  was  elTential  to  them.  I  recolle<fl  diftin^i'- 
ly  one  of  his  ren^arks  ;  namely,  that  when  three  per- 
fons  are  together,  they  will  certainly  fay  three  things 

*  which  are  improper  ;  and  if  there  are  an  hundred  of 
them,  they  will  fay  an  hundred. 

'  It  feems  that  Kliyogg  has  been  extolled  too  much  ^% 

*  a  fiirmcr,  and  at  the  cxpence  too  of  his  charader  of  a 
man.    We  have  j)eafants  by  hundreds,  who  have  done 

*  as  much  as  himfelf  for  the  improvement  of  their 
farms;  but,   in  all  our  country,  there  is  not  a  fecond 

*  Kliyogg,  confidered  as  a  ?;/«/;.     With  refpetH:  to 

*  the 


*  This  was  hut  too  true  a  charge.  There  was  even  an  ccclefiaftica; 
offirer,  who  among  other  things  had  a  right  to  examine  what  fermcns  the 
^Xt^gy  had  preacbct!  inihe  courf?  af  every  lix  months  preceding.     E- 


7^HE  RURAL  SOCRATES,  ^oi^ 

^  the  management  of  his  family, 

*  his  fupport  of  our  natural  rights,        , 

'  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  human  charad:er^ 
'  and  of  the  primary  fources  of  its  errors  and  its 
'  vices, 

*  and  a  refolute  and  forcible   oppofition  to  thefe 
_         '  fources  ; 

*  *  *"  *  in  all  thefe  particulars,  he  excelled  more  than 

*  he  did  as  a  Swifs  cultivator  ;  and  on  this  account  an 
^  altar  may  be  erected  to  him,    provided  it:   be   in  the 

*  WeRern    world.     In    ours,   we  do    not  and  cannot 

*  give  to  the  people  all  which  they  aflc.  The  whole  of 
^  the  people  ought  in  troth  to  be  refpedled  ;  but  in  Eu- 
^  rope,  we  think  a  man  refpe^flablc  only  in  proportion 
^  as  he  differs  from  the  people, 

'  The  acquifitiori  of  fpecie  is  with  us  the  finglc  fland- 
'  ard  of  internal  profperity  ;  and  the  difftpation  of  it,  the 

*  nfeceffary  refult  of  our  complicated  relations. — Kli- 
^  yogg  however  conceived,  that  c6in  in  the  hands  of  the 
'  peafant,  led  to  his  ruin  ;  and  that  the  peafant  had  no' 
'  ufe  for  cafn,  except  to  fupport  his  houfhold  and  pay 

*  his  taxes."***"., 

^  He  feared  alfo  that  thehappinefsof  his  family  would' 
'  ceafe  with  the  firft  piece  of  filk  which  entered  it  ;  and 
'  he  even  dreaded  theefFed  of  Sunday  cloihest. 

'  Having  a  deep  penetration  into  man,  he  calculated 
'  the  influence  of  each   fenfual  enjoyment  in  its  moffc 

*  diftant  confeouences.     It  was  not  its  effedb  however 

*  upon  the  finances  or  the  flate  *^  *  *  which   interefled 

*  him  ;  (for   with  thefe  he  did    not  cjoncern  himfelf  ;) 

*  but  its  cffed:  upon  the  tranquillity  of  the  mind  and  up- 
'  on  the  liberty  and  free  exercife  of  our  faculties,  at- 
Hra(Slcd  his   notice  ;   and  thele   are    obje<fls  which  (I 

*  maintain)  need  not  be  provided  for  in  Europe.    . 

'The 

+  It  isfarely  ufeful  to  obferve  the  rule»  to  be  clean  once  a  week.  There 
b  alfo  a  time  when  one  may  begin  to  wear  our  new  clothes  ;   which  fDsy 
well  happen  on  the  day  when  there  is  tio  work.    Ev 
Bb 


^oar  THE  RURAL  SOCRATES. 

*  The  fupcriority  of  the  moral  charafter,  as  feen  ijp- 

*  on  many  retired  farms  in  Switzerland,  where  Cimpld 

*  manners  are  preferved  fome  centuries  longer  than  in 

*  our  villages  ;  is  a  confirmation  that  the  ideas  of  Kli- 

*  yogg  refpecTting  the  union  of  families,  are  of  the  high- 

*  eft  importance. — It    is  true,    that    the    difficult    in- 

*  tercourfe  between  thefe  detached  farms,  renders  mar- 
^  riage  Ibmewhat   lefs    eafy,   than  in    villages   ;    but 

*  Kliyogg  was  no  friend  to  that   over-done  population, 

*  which  is  fcen  in  fome  parts  of  our  canton. 

'  Kliyogg  maintained  that  the  innocence  of  the  fexes' 
^  ought  to  be  preferved  longer  than  is   cuftomary  ;  that 

*  is  to  fay,  their  ignorance  of  this  clafs  of  gratifications  : 
'-  and  he  maintained   that    there  is  no  difficulty  in  ef- 

*  feeling  this,  by  preventing  the  young  from  going  to  bed 

*  till  they  are  well  fatigued.     He  affirmed  that  the  paf- 

*  fion  for  premature  enjoyment  is   not  natural  to  man  ; 

*  but  owes  its  rife  to  the   corruptions  of  fociety.     He 
^  faid,  that    nature  is  content  to  poflpone  thefe  feelings? 

*  for  a  longtime,  but  that  defires  are   commonly  exci- 
*"  ted  by  the  folly  of  idle  company. — His  fyflem  war? 

*  partly  the  fame  for  the  defires  and  paflions  of  the  un- 

*  derftanding.     He  thought  that  they  ought  not   to  be 
^  awakened  too  early,  and  before  the  mind  is  fufiicient- 

*  iy  matured  to  content  them. — **^'  Our  Kliyogg  in 

*  fhort    was  firmly    cbnvinced,     that   men  fhould    be 

*  brought    to  a    difcreet  enjoymer.t  of  life   by  a  courie 

*  of  voluntary  a<Slivity  and  exertion  ;  and  he  conceived 

*  that  our  prefent  inftitutlons  of  police,  of  education  and 
''  of  religion,  were  little  adapted  to  the  leading  circum- 

*  fiances  of  common  life, 

^  Perhaps  I  have  too  flrongly  expreiTed  my  fenfe  of 
^  Kliyogg's  fupcriority  as  a  man;  but  I  am  lure  that  he 
*-  fell  (hort  in  his  charadl'er  of  a  cultivator. — His  fixed 
^  principle  to  do 

'  as  much  as  pofTible  by  woi  k^ 

'  as  little  as  poflible  by  money  ; 

'  as  much  as  poftible  by  the  labor  of  his  family,  and 

•^as  little  as  pofTible  by  hired  hands  ;•  '  all 


THE    RURAL  SOCRATES.  2©2 


^  ail  this  was  worthy  of  a  great  legiflator  [who  has 
^  things  at  his  command.]-— But  with  a  nation  whole 
'  turn  is  become  contracted  by  the  practice  of  counting, 
'  meafuring,  and  weighing  ;  and  which,  on  account  of 

*  its  clofe  population,  the  high  price  of  its  land,  and  the 

*  mortgages  with  which  it  is  burthened,  cannot  fubfifl: 
^  without  counting,  meafuring  and  v/eighing  ;  with 
^  fuch  a  nation,  the  principle  cannot  apply.  Where 
^  the  peafant  is  obliged  to  pay  a  high  intereft,  and  where 

*  he  commonly  obtains  the  means  of  paying  it  by  fpin  - 
^  ning  ;  and  where  the  farms  are  generally  thrown  into 
^  divifions  (or  fields)  of  one  eighth   of  an  acre  each  ; 

*  there  the  farmer  can  rarely  keep  as  many  hands  all  the  ^ 
'  year  round,  as  he  will  want  at  particular  moments.; 

'  or  fail   to  conHder  a  return  in  caft,  as  the   great  ob- 

*  jed  of  his  labors. — Thefe  however  are  circumilances 

*  to   which  Kiiyogg  paid  little    attention  ;  for  which 

*  reafbn  he  cannot  be  exhibited  as  a  model  for  the  culti- 

*  vators  of  Zurich,  where  (I  repeat)  many  in  this  view 

*  have  exceeded  him.'*  . 

*  Tke  njoriter  of  this  eriicht  though  ingenhnst  ^vjs  not  a  farmer  ;  and 
.Jje  'vie'Txed  his  fubje^  part ia!!y, — Manj  of  Khjogg  s  farming  maxims  op- 
plj  even  in  Zurich  :  fuch  as  that  a  farmer  Jhould  fet  the  example  of  nxiork" 
ing  ;  that  he  Jhould go  to  nvork  the  fkorfef  ^way  ;  and  that  he  Jhoiild  ne<ver 
defpair.  Many  farming  praBkes  are  alfo  equally  admijjihie  in  Zurich, 
ivhich  Kiiyogg  had  the  merit  of  firfi  exhibit}  ft g  there  ;  fuch  as  that  of  mix- 
i»o  topeiher  foils  rtmarkahU  merely  for  differing  from  eech  other^  that  of 
chtaining  the  ad'vantage  deri'ved Jrom  furroivs  in  moiji  land  ixithout  the  iofs 
cf  any  landy  and  that  of  deriving  manure  from  the  trees  in  cur  n.voods. — 
Nor  is  the  reji  of  Europe  in  general  in  the  fame  circumfiances  in  nvhich  the 
fvoriter  paints  Zurich.  —  Ccnfequently  Kiiyogg  ir.ay  be  vfful  e*ven  in  Zu" 
vichi  and  fill  more  in  the  n]}  of  Europe,     E. 


APPENDIX* 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I. 

The  Preface  given  by  Arthur  7'oung^  Efqiiire^  to  that 
part  of  the  Rural  Socrates^  tranjlated  and  publifhcdtn 
Englijh^  under  hn^  direClhn. 

SOME  lime  fmce  I  c^rew  ttp  ibe  preceding  effays*',  I  wet  vvlili  a  ffoaU 
work  in  the  P'rench  language,  entitled  te  Socrate  Ruflijue.  \  peruf- 
e3  it  with  great  pleafure  ;  furprifecl  that  fo  uncommon  a  relation  fhould 
bothave  attra^ed  the  attention  of  ihofe  gentlemen,  vyho  read  the  modern 
■French  aathors,  with  a  view  to  difcover  thofe  that  promife  beft  for  tranC- 
lation  :  but  by  not  feeing  this  ruftic  phiiofopher  in  an  Englifh  drefs,  I  ajr,. 
prebend  the  work  is  not  included  in  that  number. — The  merit  and  un- 
doubted utility  cf  it  have  detei'mir^ed  r/ie  to  procure  a  tranflation  ;  that 
the  public  iDight  not  be  depcived  of  the  k)fs  of  fuch  an  example,  from  the 
concurrence  of  thofe  comoion  circumftances,  which  generally  decide  this 
negle^l  of  foreign  books,  w.hcn  deferving  of  attention  ;  fuch  as  an  impro- 
per tafte  (relauve  to  up  J  in  tranilaiors,  or  the  ideas  of  bookfellers  con- 
Cerning  their  profit, ' 

The  work  is  pieculiarly  conne^ed  with  the  general  caft  of  the  preced- 
ing fuhjeOs,  vis;  the  ecoiiorKical  manageerent  of  a  farm  :  it  enlarges  on 
fojneof  therp,  and'prefsnts  other  ideas  of  indifputabl«  ufc.  Several  parts 
cf  condudi,  which  I  haVe  omitted,  are  here  enlarged  upon  ;  and  the  whole 
ts  the  rearrr^anagenfient  of  a  Swifs  farmer  »(3ay //'z;/>7^.  It  is  the  hiffory 
6f  his  pradrce  ;/and  diiplays  an  example,  not  only  of  economy,  indiiftry, 
fobriety,  and  every  domefiic  virtue  ;  but  alfo  of  rooft  fpirited  hulbandfy, 
uiuch  more  corred  and  accurate  than  moft  of  our  Britifli  farmers  can 
boaft.  Itdifplays  a  poor  peafant,  coming  to  a  fmall  farm  overwhelmed 
wirh  mortgages,  pradiiling  fo  animated  an  agriculture,  33  not  only  to  gain 
enough  todifcharge  his  incumbrances  j  but  to  purchafc  more  land,  and  to 
cultivate  \\\t  whole  with  unremitted  diligence  and  reatiiefs,— I  ihouM 
i  think 


*  Intitled,  Rural  Economy ^^  or  EJfsjt  on  the  practical  (•arts  of  hnfi^andr^i 


APPENDIX.  it 

>hink  myfelf  very  unhappy,  were  I  to  trouble  the  public  with  a  trifling  or 
a  worthlefs  hook  ;  but  to  the  farming  reader,  or  to  thofe  who  can  be  in- 
ferefted  with  the  memoirs  of  an  honert  iiiduftry,  I  flatter  myfelf  this  liillc 
work  will  not  be  unacceptable*. 

It  has  been  received  with  uncommon  pleafure  in  Switzerland  and 
France. 

The  notes  I  have  added,  are  marked  at  the  end.*** 

No.  11. 

Fragments  from  the  EnglifiLor  French  tranflatwn  of  the 
Rural  Socrates  ;  'which  \though  origirtally  written  by 
Dr,  Hirzel^)  have  been  refervcd  for  infer tion  in  this 
appendix^  as  not  direCily  relating  to  Kliyogg. 

• Refieflions  new    inflrud^ed  njc     in    this   great  truth,    that   real 

grandeur  in  man  is  unconfined  to  rank  ;  and  that  the  rceaneft  condi- 
tion furnifhes  inflancea  ot  exalted  fentiment  and  underftanding,  capaj- 
ble  of  being  employed  to  the  general  good.— I  wa?  likewife  convin- 
ced  that  in  all  fifuarions,  the  confciouinefs  of  a  rational  application  of 
our  talents,  the  fenfe  of  the  progrefs  we  make  in  doing  good,  and  the  pure 
and  tranquil  joy  which  is  the  conftant  refuU  of  it  ;  are  every  where  the 
fteady  reward  of  virtue. — The  different  gradations  and  defcriptions  of  ge- 
nius are  equally  difcernible  in  the  cottage  and  the  palace,  I  could  trace 
among  the  cultivators  of  the  earth  a  Lycurgus,  a  Socrates,  a  Plato,  a  Ho- 
mer, and  a  Luciani  !  Nor  ought  I  to  conceal  that  the  marks  of  vice  were 
slfo  to  be  met  with.  The  diftiniftion  between  the  ruftics  and  the  falhion- 
able  part  of  the  world  confifts  in  the  objecis,  not  the  degree^  of  the  powers 
of  reafoning. 

The  country  therefore  is  the  beft  fchool  for  acquiring  a  more  intimate 
knowledge  of  human  nature,  for  forming  juft  ideas  of  happinefy,  and  for 
difccrning  what  conflitutcs  the  true  greatnefs  of  raan.     Here  I  learned  to 

defpifc 


*  //  nuas  njorttten  originally  in  Getman,     This  trartjlation    is  from  thi 
French  one  *^*     Y. 

+  Some  'Village  Hampden^  that  nxiith  dauntfefs  hreojl 
The  little  tyrant  of  his  fields  ivith/iood  ; 
Some  tnute%  inglorious  MilloTt)  here  may  refi  ; 
Some  Cromnjoelly  guilt lefs  of  his  country  s  bloods 

Full  many  a  gemof  purefl  ray  ferene 

The  dark  unfathom'd  ca'ves  of  ocean  htar  ; 
Full  many  a  flo-Lver  IS  hern  to  hlu/h  nnfesny 

And  fviajie  itsfnveetnejs  on  the  defart  air, 

Graj*s  Elegy,  written  in  a  Country  Church  Yard,    R, 


.1  A    P    P    E    N     D    I    X. 

defpifc  the  ridiculous  vanity  of  thofe  literary  geniufea,  who  fancy  that 
fheir  extenfivc  erudition  places  them  in  a  fuperior  ortier  of  beings;  when 
it  is  evident,  ihat  their  aoderftaDding  is  frequenrly  clouded  with  prejudi- 
ces, and  their  will,  a  Have  to  the  dominion  cf  the  paffiona  ;  a  flavery 
'vvhlch  their  v&nlty,  ihe  excrefcence  of  their  learning,  renders  apparent  to 
ihecyes  ola  iniephilcfopher.  '■ 

My  feBtiracnis  now  became  more  enlarged.  AH  the  diladvanta- 
<^eou3  defcriptions  of  the  manners  and  genius  of  ihofc  we  call  /a- 
Xap.es  rrr^w  fufpefted  ;  and  I  lamented  our  deficienry  in  relations 
of  irivxiling  pi.ilofophers,  capabk  of  inveftigating  the  fecret  receffes 
of  the  human  heart,  and  cf  contemplating  nature  in  her  uncultivated 
oifspring  in  a  j^jdicious  and  itDpartial  manner.  I  am  perfuaded  fuch 
remarks  would  throw  new  light  on  our  inquiries  into  the  theo- 
ry of  the  intelJee.ual  faculty,  and  furnilli  the  triends  of  human  na- 
turewiih  mareriais  for  gratitude  to  ;he  wifdom  and  good ne fa  of  the 
Creator  in  the  order  and  difpofijion  of  his  creatures.— We  (hould  find  that 
chofe  nations,  whom  ws  brand  as  favage,  might,  with  much  propriety, 
letort  the  appelhtion  on  their  polite  gueds,  who  feek  forcibly  to  difpof- 
fcfstheraof  wealth  and  liberty  I  N  )r  (houU  we  have  any  remaining 
dcubtj  whether  thofe  among  them  a«ed  wifely,  who  after  participating  in 
she  rrsnners  and  fciences  of  the  Europeans,  feize  the  firft  opportanuy  of 
leturning  to  the  firnple  and  rational  li-fe  of  their  countrymen. 

The  pleafore  ari{^.ng  from  the  fi^dy  of  hufoandry  is  now  confirmed 
in  m&*,  Snce  it  is  btcome  a  part  of  n>y  duty  to  examine  the  nature  of 
foils.  The  appointment  of  firft  phyfician  to  the  republic  of  Zurich^ 
«^aking  it  incumbent  on  n>e  ro  watch  over  the  health  of  her  ci- 
:izen<>,  I  ara  oblig-d  to  pay  peculiar  attention  to  the  different  modes 
of  living  of  the  different  racks  of  pc^opK%-The  confideration  of  a  re- 
;,redy  for  epidemical  dfftempers  among  cattle,  alfo  being  flrongly  re- 
commenced to  my  care,  fome  kuowleogc  of  agriculture  feemed  a  recei- 
f:irv  preliminary  to  fuch  an  office;  as  it  fllmoft  always  happens  that  the 
origin  of  thefe  epidemici.1  diOempers  fpiings  from  the  meadow  and  paflure 
3anci?.     n^  rules-\  (inferted  in  our  v^.t^toui)  for  prevention  of  epiiemtcGi 

d'ijeafis 

*  Dr,  Hirz^lfrc-1  his  ninth  to  hh Jlxteenth  year  reftdei  in  the  Abbey 
ofCapel;  of  'which  his  father  m^os  bit  en  a  ant  for  the  Kif^g  of  Prufta. 
Here  he  ^vent  through  a  complete  coufe  of  hufoandry  and  caimcrjed  ^ifh 
farmers;  thus  acquiring  a  lo'v:  for  agriculture,  'with  opportunities  of  o.. 
fer'vi/jg  mankind  in  ajfate  of  fettrement*     L. 

+  The  go-vernmcvt  of  Znrich,  defrous  to  gite  thefe  rules  the  force  b/ Unii, 
fuhlijhed  ihem  hy  authority  throughout  their ^  canton.—Ths  magijiracy  cf 
ilofil  for  Baflej  ea^nh  foilcfwed  the  eyavjpie.  .^     •  1 

''•Jhe  memi>irs  referred 'tOy  are  thofe  of  the  Philohphical  Society  of  luricb  ; 
tfrwhirh  the  author  had  been  fecrctary.  It  has  been  chfr^ed  tn  the  /rr- 
face,  that  the  liural  Socmtes  %va:  rea^  kefart  th  Sodety,  and  is  a  part  fr. 
iiz  memoir:,     F. 


APPENDIX.  ir 

difenjes   in  eatile%  hy  correPJng  the  injahhrity  of  the  fail^  furRifh  proof  of 
what  I  advance. 

This  double  motive  infpired  me  with  an  ardent  defire  of  exploring 
and  explaining,  with  all  pofiiole  precifion,  the  prefent  ftate  of  rural  econo- 
my in  Zurich  ;  with  its  imperfcftions  and  capability  of  improvemento 
In  this  purfuit  I  again  repeat  niy  happinefs  in  being  meniber  of  a  fociety, 
which  makes  this  interefting  fuhjed  the  principal  and  conflant  end  ol 
rts  conferences  and  inquiries. 

I  muft  nevertheJcfs  acknowjrdge,  ihat  the  Biethods  hitherto  purfaed,  dG> 
not  appear  to  me»  the  beft  calculated  to  anfwcr  the  purpofes  of  improve- 
irsent  xvi  farming. — An  eager  purfuit  after  new  experiments,  prevail* 
aiDongft  thofc,  whofe  knowledge  of  the  ancient  huib-indry  is  fupeificiaJ 
and  incompetent.  Some  there  are  who  flatter  themfclvcs  with  being  con- 
fidercd  as  the  great  improvers  of  agriculture,  fro.n  the  introduflionoi  foroc 
unknown  fpecies  of  corn  or  artiScial  grafs  :  others  expt-d  fame  from  the 
invention  of  Tome  new  innplement  or  different  me(hod  of  tillage  :  whilft 
a  third  fort  hope  to  acquire  it  by  untried  objefis  of  attention  ;  fuch  a« 
the  culture  of  mulberry-trees  for  filk-worms,  &:c. — in  oppofiticn  to  this  I 
apprehend  the  £rft  principle  we  ought  to  fel  our  upen,  is  a  perfevSl  know- 
kdgeof  the  nature  of  foils  ;  with  a  competent  infighi  into  fuch  methods  of 
cultivation  as  are  praQifed  by  the  moft  induftrious  farmers,  by  which  the^ 
often  double  their  produccp  compared  with  their  reareft  nejghboTb'„ 
What  remains  is  to  procure  a  free  communication  of  thefe  roethods ;  and 
to  endeavor  by  all  pofllble  means,  to  excite  a  laudable  ecnulation  in  farm- 
ers.— This  I  (hould  think  the  rapft  eligible  plan  for  re^orin^  agriculture 
ffmong  us.  The  moft  circumforibed  genias  may  follow  pradicai  rules,, 
unmolifted  by  any  obftacle  3  whiUt  new  in7ea:ior.s  are  attended  with  a- 
crowd  of  dii?tculiics. 

I  hsve  no  defire  to  depreciate  the  a'.erit  of  thofe  generous  chlzensv, 
who  have  appropriated  a  confiderablc  parr  of  the  fjpefp.oity  of  their  it%- 
co.re  to  the  procuring  of  new-invented  impleetisnts  of  hu^indry  ;  with 
f^vera!  for^s  of  grain  and  grafs-f^edsj  trees  and  fhrubs,  unknown  in  our 
clfmate  ;  of  v/h'ich  they  have  made  trials  on  their  ^^i^'Ci  cttatf.s  before  ihcj?- 
were  rendered  public.  Thefe  fpirited  attentions,  cf  whcfs  good  effet^ta 
we  have  already  reaped  much  advantage,  uodoubredly  merit  our  com- 
loendation  and  acknowledgement.  The  introduction  of  potatoes  and 
tutkey-corn  (or  maize,)  and  of  turf  (or  peat)  for  manure,  &c.  may  be  com- 
prifed  in  the  number.— Yet  this  plan  for  the  improvcaienc  of  agriculture, 
appears  more  uncertain,  and  infinitely  Jlaxver  in  it?  progrefs,  than  that 
which  I  have  ventured  to  recommend.  It  is  more  uncertain^  becaufe  mert 
fiie  too  apt  ;o  embellifii  a  favorite  theory  in  their  writings.     The  olje^s 

ot 


*  A  farmer  can  feldom  do  better^  ivhen  moming  into  a  nt^o)  f J  nation  i  thais- 
•Ifernje  the  praBices  of  the  moffuccefsful  of  hii  neiv  neighbors  ;  ejpec tally  if 
h»  is  obliged  to  employ  laborers  obtained  upon  ihefpzt.  It  'Txillhe  i^fj  tf/^ 
iernMarJi  gradually  to  refart  tQ  his  Qivn  idr^s,     E, 


V  A    P    P    E    N    D    I    Xa 

of  which  they  arc  fand,  are  often  extolled  beyond  reality,  and  they  i\- 
low  too  much  to  fancy  in  their  defcriptions.  It  muft  be  a  long  courfe  of 
otpericnents  which  alone  can  determine  whether  this  or  that  grain  or  grafe 
ma^  be  naturalized  with  real  benefit  to  a  country  ;  or  whether  the  adop- 
tion of  a  new  fyftem  of  hu{bandry,  with  its  attendant  cxpence,  be  an  ad- 
vantageous compenfaiion  for  abandoning  an  old  one.  Experiments  ofterE' 
fucceed  to  admiration  in  a  well-cultivated  garden  ;  bat  when  extended, 
the  utility  is  found  abforbed  in  the  expence  of  labor.— I  have  alfo  obferr- 
cd,  that  new  inventions  are  vtiyjlsxv  in  their  effed^s,  and  can  be  of  no 
real  benefit  till  they  become  habitual  or  general. — It  is  a  work  of  time  to 
convince  a  psafant  that  the  alterations  you  propofe  are  eligible  ;  and  to 
perfuade  him  to  renounce  his  prejudices,  and  change  the  habits  received 
froaj  his  forefathers  for  new  ones. 

NOe     III. 

Another  y^rticle  from  Dr.  HirzeL 

A  Letter  from  Dr.  Hirzel  to  the  Abbe  Sigifmond,  Count  of  Rfotlicn- 
wart  and  Piefidcnt  of  the  College  of  the  Norjh  [du  Nord],  of  Liniz, 
(dated  4  Oclober,  1774))  "  inserted  in  the  French  tranflation  ;  but  as  it 
h^as  no  relation  to  Kliyogg,  it  was  omined  in  its  place  ;  though  it  con- 
tains ufetul  remarks  lefpefiing  the  merits  of  agriculture,  and  the  injuiy 
iont  to  it  by  luxury,  manufactures,  defpotifm,  armies,  &c. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  however,  that  famine  is  reprefented  as  having 
caafed  grent  mortality  among  roanufs^urers  and  other  purchafen  of  the 
earth's  prodo(f^ions  ;  but  es  having  had  no  effef^  among  thofc  who  culti' 
dialed  the  earth  for  food.  The  French  tranilatof  adds  curious  accounts  of 
the  diminution  of  Qiarriages  and  births  among  the  former,  in  addition  to' 
yhe  insreafed  number  of  deaths. 

The  following  paffages  alfo  merit  3  place  h'er*.  ♦*  Columella  (fays  Df. 
«  Hirzel)  affures  us,  that  agriculture  is  int2rnat?yy  allied  with  wifdora  5 
«  and  I  can  affirm  from  my  own  experience,  that  the  afliduity  amd  Ikill  in 
•  agriculrcre  of  our  villages  always  affords  a  certain  prefumption  rn  favor 
«  of  iiieir  attachment  to  religion  and  gocd  mollis  ;  and  that  it  is  rare  to 
^  find  thefc  virtues,  except  in  company  with  each  other," — <•  A  good 
^  cultivator  is  foon  turned  into  a  good  foldier  ;  and  many  of  our  oldeft 
•s  officers  in  foreign  fervice  have  informed  me,  (hat  they  have  conflantly 
«'  cbferved,  that  every  feldier  draixn  from  the  feofantry  it  a  good  JQldier 
"  mpropQvthn  sa  ht  has  been  a  go^d  peajc:n\** 


No,  IV. 


A    P    ?^    E    N    D    I    X.  ',1 

No.  IV. 

Conclujlon  oj  Dr,  HirzeFs  ftr/i  worky  chiefly  taken  from 
the  Engli/fi  tranjlaiion* 

If  the  magiilratcs  of  Zurich  think  it  an  objeft  of  national  utilitr  to- 
encourage  agriculture  by  premiums  and  marks  of  diftinif^ion,  their  whole 
attention  fhould  be  applied  to  having  thei^  juftly  conferred.  This  would 
require  the  eftablilhrrent  of  a  .  .  e  .  Society  formed  of  men  of  cha- 
rader  ;  whofe  integrity  and  knowledge  of  z\t\y  thing  relative  to  hufban- 
dxy,  might  fecure  univexfal  conttdence  ;  for  it  is  neeeiury  that  thofe  who 
are  to  confer  efteem,  fhould  themfelves  pofTsfs  it.  Men  of  this  defcription 
will  think  theajfelves  under  the  ftrongeft  obligation  to  ftudy,  with  accura- 
cy, the  date  of  the  country  ;  a  t^ik  not  cafy  to  be  accoraplilhed,  fince  not- 
withftanding  our  fmall  extent  of  territory,  we  have  an  uncommon  variety 
of  cultivation. — -Thofe  parts  which  border  upon  the  Alps  arc  appropria- 
ted to  the  grazing  and  breeding  of  cattle^  and  Kttie  gnsin  is  to  be  feen- 
there  ;  whilft  in  the  loivci  and  lefs  confined  dillrif^s  of  Greificnfee,  YJu 
bourg,  and  Regenfper,  ihe  harvsfi  makes  a  glorious  appearance.  Along 
the  two  banks  of  t!»e  Lake  oi  Zurich,  in  the  vales  watered  by  the  Liin- 
math,  Thour,  and  Thcefb ;  as  well  as  on  the  borders  of  the  Rhine  ;  the 
culture  of  the  vine  fonr.s  the  piincipai  branch  of  rurrd  econoaiy  :  but 
this  culture  is  difF.-rent,  according  to  the  nature  of  thefe  foilso  The  grapes 
on  the  Lake  of  Zurich  feem  to  require  another  treatment,  from  thofe  on 
the  Limmath,  though  the  vineyards  are  feparated  only  by  the  city  ;  and 
the  culture  of  thofe  planted  on  the  fides  of  the  R-hine,  the  Thour,  and  the 
Thcefs,  differs  VI  idely  from  both. — The  members  of  this  Society  fhould' 
therefore  make  themfelves  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  different 
pTsdiiccs  ufed  throughout  the  canton  .  ,  .  The  names  of  the  perfons  molt 
tfleemcd  and  moft  fuccefsful  in  hufhandry  fhould  alfo  be  obtained  ;  with 
their  own  relations  of  their  ir.ethods  of  condud^ing  and  ioiproving  their 
farms.  The  Society  fhould  alfo  from  tiaie  to  time  make  cxcurlions,  to^ 
leilify  miflakes  by  perfonal  inquiries, t— Thus  by  a  judicious  dilhibution 
of  applaufe  and  of  recompenfes  to  the  bcfl  of  cultivators,  an  emulation 
might  be  awakened  in  the  peafants  fo  as  jto  bring  agriculture  to  a  general 
ftaie. of  improvement.  Careful  trials  niight  be  made  under  the  immedi- 
ate infpeftion  of  the  Society  of  all  new  djfcoveries,  firlHn  nuifery-groundst 
»»d  afterwards  if  fuccefsfu!  in  the  open  field.  An  cxaft  journal  fhould  be 
of  every  experinrient  .  i  .  .    ■  :...         ■■.    - 

.  When  the  Society  fhall  have  fufficiently  qualified  itfelf,  and  made  the 
meceffary  arrangements,  it  may  propofe  an  annual  felet^ion-of  the  bell  farm- 
ers iiom  a  certain  number  of  villages,  taking  allin  rotation.  On  an  ap- 
pointed  day  thefe  ftiould  be  invited  to  appear  before  the  Society  ;  and 
when  furrounf^ed  by  their  countrymen,  hear  an  elogiu^n  pronounced,  re-- 
cotnroending  them  as  modeli  to  ethers  j  and  in  teftimony  of  the  public 
approbation,  receive  the  deftined  prize!  J  would  h^vc  this  a  medal, lepre- 
fenting  a  laborer  driving  his  plough,  . , 

C  c  Such 


m  A    ?    P    E    N    D    I    :^:. 

Such  rewards  wculd  infinitely  more  promote  ioiprcvements  ia  hut'^ 
hBndty,  than  rhe  coftora  of  ofFtting  premiums  for  the  heft  diflertatiou 
en  fixed  quefiion?.  My  method  condufts  to  its  end  dired\ly  ;  whilft  ia- 
genious  fpecuiaiions  .are  flow  and  remote  in  their  contquence&f.  • 

I  cannot  better  conclude  than  with  a  remark  from  the  Hicro  of  Xeno-* 
phon,  which  perfe(^ly  ag.rces  with  ihe  plan  here  cfTered.     **  ^Agriculture 
«  whicU  though  one  of  the  mofl  lucrative  eaAployrnents  has  never  yet  been 

*  attempted  to  be  for-varded  by  ejrulation,  would  greatly  flourifti,  M premh 

*  urns  were  cftablifhed  in  the  country  and  in  the  villages  for  thofe  who  heft 

*  cultivated   the  earth.      The   citizei)8  thus    encouraged  to    excrilon?, 
^  would   make   great  profits  ;  the  revenues  of  the  ftate  would  augment ; 

*  and  a  raodeft  temperance  would  be  joined  to   a  love  of  labor.     It  is  be- 
<  fides  known  that   criaies   arc  lefis  common   among  the  induftriousj.** 

No.  V. 

Of  the  honors  paid  to  agriculture  in  certain  eaflern 

countries. 

There  are  fome  reaiarkable  inibnces  (fays  Mr.  Giolon  when  fpeaking 
of  Perjza  in  antient  times)  in  which  Zoroaiter*  lays  afide  the  prophet,  af- 
fua.es  the  leglflator,  and  difcovers  a  liberal  concern  for  private  and  public 
hfippir.efs,  feldom  to  be  found  among  the  gioveling  or  vifionary  fchemes 
of  fiiperrtition. — Fafting  and  celibacy,  t!;c  common  nneans  of  purchafing 
the  divine  favor,  he  condemns  with  abhorrence  ;  as  a  criminal  rejedtioR 
i}i  the  bert  gifts  of  Provj<lence.  The  faint,  in  the  Magian  religion,  :t 
cbligtd  to  bt'gel  ehUJrcn  ;  to  plant  uftfui  trees,  to  deRroy  noxious  ani- 

+  Yonichitigi  Emperor  ofChhiay  ivho  died  in  ihe  year  1 724,  afid  nvas  re^ 
narhabie  for  hts  jujiice  end  ohfer-vatioii  of  the  tanjos,  "  raifed  to  the: 
"  rank  of  a  mandarin  of  the  eighth  cJafs^  that  laborer,  in  cverj  pro<vinc£t 
**  ivhoi  by  the  united 'VCiice  of  the  mandarins  of  his  canton^  ivas  decreed  the 
**  niojl  diligent^  induftriousy  kcnef  man  !  Not  that  the  laborer  trvas  campeUed 
**  to  quit  his  original  pro fJJtQn^  ix^here  he  had  made  fo  good  a  figure^  to  exer- 
**  c'^^  f unci  1371  s  cf  judicature  ivith  <which  he  ivas  utterly  tinacquainted.  He 
^^^JiiU  remained  a  labor er^  fjuiih  the  title  cf  riandarin  :  He  enjoyed  the prl'^j^ 
**  ihJge  vf  being  next  ihe  goxierjior  cf  the  prsvinccy  and  eating  at  his  table  • 
*'  and  his  name  food  in  letters  of  gold  in  the  public  hall.  It  is  f aid  that  thh 
**  cttjhmy  fo  repugnant  to  our  manners^  and  fo  firong  a  fitire  upon  them^ 
^  Jlill  fubfp:*  See  Addiri-ous  to  ihe  Hfoty  of  all  Nations,  by  M,  Vol- 
♦♦  laire.     F. 

"4!  Dr.  Ilirzelin  hisix'otk  cites  a  celebrated  encomium  on  agriculture^  hy 
the  an! lent  Socrates%  extraSfed  from  the  fifth  book  of  the  Memorabilia  of 
Xevophon.  But  as  it  does  net  agree  'with  modern  inaniijtn  and  religion  m 
Jyme  particulars^  it  has  been.  Jifgtefltd l.i'7i,      E, 

*  AFtrfanhg^faton 


A    P    P    E    N    D    1    Xo     ^  vii; 

ixals,  to  coni'fy  Wbicx  to  il.e  dry  lands  of  Peifia,  and  to  work  cat  Ms  CaU 
vatien  by  purfuing  cll  tht  labors  of  agriculture.  We  iray  quote  from  the 
Zenifavefta  a  wife  zcA  benevolent  maxim,  which  compcr.fates  for  aian/ 
an  abfurdity  :  "  Ht  who  fjws  the  ground  with  care  and  diligence,  cc- 
"  quires  a  greater  ftock  of  religious  merit,  than  he  could  gain  by  the  re- 
**  petition  of  ten  thocfand  prayers."— In  the  fpring  of  every  year  a  fefli- 
val  was  celebrated,  cenined  to  renrefent  the  primitive  equality,  and  the 
prefent  conn"e^ion,  of  mankind.  The  (lately  kin^s  cf  PerTia,  excb^.nging 
their  vain  porr.p  for  more  genuine  greatr.eft,  freely  mingled  with  the  hum- 
bJefl  but  moft  ufeful  of  their  fubje^s.  On  that  day  the  hufbandrnen  wxr:; 
admitted  without  di{lir.<^ion,  to  the  table  of  the  king  and  his  fatr:?ps 
[or  nobility,]  The  monarch  accepted  their  petitions,  inquired  into  their 
grievances,  and  converfed  wiih  them  on  the  moft  equal  terms.  *'  From 
^joTir  ichors  was  hs  accuPiOrred  to  fav,  (and  to  fay  with  truth  If  not  wish 

*  fincezity)  from  your  labors  KA:e  receive  our  fubfiftenre  :  jon  derive  your 

♦  tranquillity  from  our  'vigilance  :  fince  therefore  we  are  mutually  iieceffa- 

•  ty  to  each  other,  Itt  us  live  together  in  concord  and  lover."  Such  a 
feflival  rnuft  indecvl  have  degenerated,  in  a  wealthy  and  defpotic  empire, 
icjto  a  theatrical  reprtfentation  ;  but  it  was  at  leaft  a  comedy  well  worthy 
erf  a  royal  audience,  and  which  might  fometimes  ift^print  a  falutary  leffon 
on  the  mind  of  a  young  prince.  (See  the  Hiftory  of  the  Decline  a-nd  Kail 
cf  the  Rnmpn  Empire,  chap.  8.) 

TheGuebres;^  in  P^ifia  (relates  Sir  Jchn  Chardin)  are  all  cultivator?, 
or  artificers,  cr  fullers,  ^or  workers  in  leather,  I  never  faw  one  among 
them  who  Hved  without  doing  fomsthing,  nor  yet  any  one  of  ihem  who 
applied  to  the  liberal  arts  or  to  commerce.  Their  great  profeflion  is 
agriculture  ;  including  in  this  term,  p^ardening  and  vineyards,  as  well  as 
ti!l2ge.  They  coiilider  agriculture  not  only  as  an  agreeable  and  inno- 
cent profeffion,  but  «s  meritorious  and  no'ole.  They  even  believe  it  the 
firft  of  vocations ;  and  one  which  both  the  fovereign  God  and  the  inferior 
gods  (as  they  phrafe  it]  hold  mod  in  confideration,  and  moft  reward. 
This  creed  (ior  it  has  become  fuch^  peculiarly  inclines  them  to  culiiva- 
tion  .;  their  priefts  teaching  them,  that  though  the  mn!t  virtuous  of  all 
afts  is  thst  of  having  a  family;  yet  that  the  next  is  to  cultivate  lands 
which  would  o;hcrv;  ife  be  negleCled,  or  to  plant  a  tree  ufcful  for  bearing 
fruit  or  for  other  purpofee. — I  have  an  hundred  times  refle«fled  on  ihis 
fuhjf6},  when  I  have  ccnicmplaccd  on  one  fide  the  dryuefs  and  prcfent 
barrennefs  of  Perfi;*,  wiih  its  f:2nty  population  and  llender  productions, 
compared  with  the  imn  enfc  fize  cf  this  country  ;  and  on  the  other  hand, 
have  recclkded  what  is  f^id  in   antient   hiftory  of  its  numbers,  fertility, 

p.nd 


f  Honx)  clojely  does  this  corrcffcnd  iviih  Kliyoggs  difcourfe  to  Prince 
Louis  Eugftie  of  IVirttJnhtrg^!   iSce  /.  1 1 6  —  H  7.      E, 

\  l^he  Gucbres  are  the  ivor/Jjippers  of  fire  orofth^ftt?:^  17:  Tr.oJer?:  limes  : 
fhe  name  being  gi'ven  to  them  by  the  Mohammedans^  in  reproach,  Thefg 
vuorjhippers  are  nonv  very  feto  in  number.  They  are  defcendants  ofihs 
M^^if  or/oU(.-^j::rs  rf  Zorr^jter.  jnj}  ^r-i'iofied fr-Qrt  Mr,  G^bbf'T,     E. 


:<  APPENDIX. 

and  power  ;  (for  nothing  can  at  firft  feem  more  improbable  than  that 
both  files  of  the  cafs  fiionld  be  true  ;)  I  fay,  ih;>t  I  have  an  hundred  rimes 
rcflc(Sed  on  this  flrange  change;  and  if  appeared  to  me  owing  to  two 
caufes. — Fir(l,  the  aniient  Perfians  were  rohul^  laboriou?,  and  attached  to 
hafinefs ;  while  the  modern  inhabitanTs  are  idle,  volupiuoii",  and  fpecul^- 
tive.  '  Next,  the  aniient  Perfians  made  cultivation  a  branch  of  their  reli- 
gion ;  and  thought  that  to  labor,  was  to  ferve  God  :  while  the  prefent- 
inhabitants  of  Perfia  have  principles  which  lead  them  to  defpife  work  ;  ' 
for  they  maintain  that  life  is  fo  fnorr,  uncertain,  and  changing  ;  that 
while  it  lyfis,  v,e  fhould  act  asTnen  doiti  a  conquered  country  or  in  win- 
ter quarters  ;  that  is  to  fay,"' obtain  whatever  %'-  car,  without  car- 
ing for  futuri'y.— -The  [modern  defcendants  of  the]  antient  Perfians  have 
gentle  and  fimple  nnanners;  and  lUe  very  tranquilly  under  their  el^ers^ 
whom  they  choofe  as  msgiftr^res  ;  the  Peifian  government  confirming 
riiem  in  their  office,  [n.  b.  Thifj  paragraph  is  tranllated  from  an  ex- 
tn(\  given  in  the  preface  to  the  French  iraorAation  of  Kliyogg.     E.] 

Mf.  BciH,  tho  traveller,  who  was  prefent  at  the  march  of  a  Turhj?o  st- 
fry  from  Conflantinople,  headed  by  the  Sultan  ;  tells  us  that  it  was  atterid- 
td  by  all  the  different  trades  and  artifans,  and  that  the  proceiFton  continued 
jrourdays.  "  "Wit  fujl  in  procel]ion,  was  a  plough  drawn  by  painted  ox.- 
**  en  with  gilded  hori«."     See  his  recond'volurae.  p.  414. 

Before  the  original  inftitctions  of  I^idla  were  fubverted  by  foreign  in- 
,  vaders,  the  indulhy  of  the  hufbandx-aii  on  which  every  mcinber  of  the 
comir.unify  depended  for  funhftence  v/as  as  fecure,  as  the  tenure  by  which 
he  held  his  lands  was  equitable.  Even  war  did  not  interrupt  liis  labors  0? 
etidanger;  his  property.  :  It  vpas  not  uncommo<i,  we  are  informed  [by 
Strabo,]  that  while  tv^o  armies  were  fighting  a  battle  in  one  iidd,  the 
reafanis  were  ploughing  or  re;iping  in  the  next  field  in  perfetl  tranquillity, 
Thefe  maxims  and  regulalions*  of,  the  antient  legiilators  of  India  have  a 
near  refembhnte  ro  the  fyftem  of  rhofe  modern  fpeculatois  on  political 
economy,  .who  teprefentthe  produce  of  land  as  the  fole  fourcs  of  wea!u*^ 
in  z\txy  country  j  and  who  confide?  the  difcoTery  of  this  principle,  ac- 
cording tO'  which  they  cojitend  that  the  government  of  nations  Ihould  be 
conduced,  as,  one  of  the  gre.ue(l  efForts  of  hum^n  wifdom. — Under  a  form 
of  govcrnnr.ent  which  paid,  fuch  art  attention  to  all  ihe  diiTerent  orders  of 
wliich  the  fociety  ia  compofed,  particularly  fhe  cultivators  of  the  earth,  ir 
is  not  wonderful  that  the  aniicnts  fnould  defcribe  the  Indians  as  a  raoft 
•happy  race  of  men;  and  that  the  moll  intelligent  modern  obfervera 
fnould  celebrate  the  equity,  the  humanity,  and  the  miidnefs  oi  Indian  poli- 
cy. A  Hindoo  R?j;ih,  as  1  have  been  informed  by  petfons  well  acquaint- 
ed with  ihe  Hate  of  Ir.dia,  refcmbles  more  a  father  prcfiding  in  a  numer- 
ous family  of  children  ;  than  a  fcvereign  ruling  over  inferiors. — See 
Appc'uiiK  to  Dr.  Robertfon's  H'tjlorkal  Difquijuiotis  concetnwg  the  /ixav- 
If  (/re  mb.'C.b  ihe  antiaits  had  of  India*     p.  267—268, 


A    P    ?    S    N    D    I    X. 


®n  the  Sfteeiuh  day  of  the  firft  moon  in  every  yearj,  which  generally 
iearrcfponds  with  the  beginning  of  March,  the.  Emperor  of  China,  in  per- 
Ibn  performs  the  ceremony  of  opening  the  grounds.  This  prince  in  great, 
porap  proceeds  to  the  field  appointed  for  the  ceremony  :  the  princes  of  the 
ir^geri-al  family,  the  prefidents  of  the  five  great  tribunals,  and  an  infinite 
number  of  mandarins  accompany  him.  *  *  *  The  Emperor  laying  afide  his 
joyal  robes,  takes  hold  of  the  handle  of  the  plough,  and  (urns  up  feveral 
fuHOws  the.whole  length  of  the  field  :  then,  wfth  a  complaifant  air  hav- 
-ing  delivered  the  plough  to  the  mandarins,  ihey  fucceflively  follow  1iis  ex- 
ample. *  *  *  The  ceremony  concludes  vs^iih  the  diftribution  of  money  and 
pieces  of  ftufFamong  the  laborers  there  prefent  ;  the  moft  ad^ive  of  whom 
liDifh  the  remaining  labor,  in  prefence  of  the  E;?iperor.  *  *  * 

Some  time  afi^r,  \fi\\tv\  they  have  fuSciently  labored  and  manured  their 
grounds,  ihe  EiTsperor  repairs  again  in  proceflion  ;  and  begins  the  fowing 
ef  the  fields,  always  accompanied  with  ceremony,  and  attended  by  the  la- 
borers of  ihe  province. 

The  fame  ceremonies  are  performed  on  the  fame  days  in  all  the  provin- 
ces of  the  empire,  bv  the  viceroys,  afilfled^by  all  the  magiftrates  of  their 
departments,  in.  prefence  of  a  great  number  of  the  laborers  of  their  refpec- 
tive  provrinces.  I  have  feen  this  opening  of  the  grounds  at  Canton  ;  and 
never  remember  to  have  beheld  any  of  the  ceremonies  invented  by  mtn 
with  half  the  pleafure.  *  * 

The  Chinefe  agriculture  has  at  the  fame  time  other  encoursgements. 
Every  year  the  viceroys  of  the  provinces  fend  to  court  the  names  of  fuch 
laborer?  as  have~  diftinguifhed  themfelves  in  their  employments.  .  .  . 
Thefe  names  are  prefeuted  to  the  Emperor,  who  confers  honorary  titles  on 
the  parties,  to    diftinguifh   them  above  their  fellow  laborers. 

Jf  any  man  has  made  an  important  difcovery  which  may  influence  the 
improvement  of  agriculture,  or  Ihould  he  in  any  manner  deferve  more 
diftinguifhed  mar^ks  of  regard  than  the  reft,  the  Emperor  invites  hiaj  to 
Pekin,  defraying  his  journey  with  dignity  at  the  expence  of  his  empire  % 
he  receives  him  into  his  palace  ;  interrogates  him  with  regard  to  his  abil- 
ities, his  age,  the  nusiber  of  his  children,  the  extent  and  quality  of  his 
Jands  ;  then  difmilTes  him  to  his  plough,  diftinguifl-ied  by  honorable  titles 
?nd  loaded  with  benefits  and  favors, 

*  *  *  This  empire  was  founded  by  lahorgrs  in  thcfe  happy  times,  when 
the  laws  of  the  great  Creator  were  ftill  held  in  remembrance,  ar?d  the  cuU 
ture  of  the  earth  confidcred  as  the  nobleft  of  all  employments, ,  .  , 
and  the  general  occupation  of  all.  Frora  Fouhi,  (who  was  the  firfl: 
chief  of  the  nation  *  *)  all  the  Emperors  without  exceptiooa  even  to 
this  day,  glory  in   being  the  firf^  laborers  of  their  empire. 

The  Chineie  hidory  has  carefully  prefejved  an  anecdote  of  generoflh^ 
jn  twoof  the  ahtient  Emperors,  who  not  perceinng  arnong  their  chilJrcEi 
any  one  to  mount  a  throne  which  virtue  alone  ought  to  inherit,  named 
as  their  fucccflbrs  two  fimple  laborers,  Thefe  'aborers,  according  lo  the 
Chinefe  annals,  advanced  the  happinefs  of  jcankind  durit^g  very  long 
jeigns :  their  memory  ij  ftill  held  ia  th«  higheS  vesei^tloi.     Ir  h  uhne- 

.  ■    -  c^iTarr"' 


APPENDIX, 
cefury  toobferve  hew  muc^sxamples  fach  as  thcfc  honor  and  animate  ag- 


ncuhure. 


See  Travfls  of  a  Philofophr  hy  M.  le  Pol'-jre  ;  3  Deautitul  and  cele- 
brated little  pcribrmancs,  cf  Ihe  EnglKh  tranflation,of  which,  the  panier 
Vi  ihe  prcleni  work  puhlifhed  a  new  ediiion'i'n  1797+* 

No.  Vf. 

So?72e  pariicnlars  rrfped'mg  Chlne/e  agriculture* 

r.v  what  art  (fays  the  fame  xM.  le  Poivre)  can  the  er.r:h  produce  fubfift- 
fnce  fin  Chin;.]  for  fuch  numhcrs  ?  Do  the  Chincfc,  polfefs  any  fecret 
for  multiplying  gnin  nnd  provinor..*  *  *  ?--To  fulve  my  clou  >Ts  I  tra- 
xzTh  thefielHs;  I  introduce  jnyfeU  amcrg  the  hborers  ;  who  are  in 
general,  eafv,  polite,  and  affable,  with  A>me  (hare  of  learning  atul  know- 
k^f  e  of  the  worlJ.  I  examine  and  purfuc  them  through  all  their  opera- 
.ions  ;  and  ohferve  that  their  fecret  conhfts  f.mply  in  rpanunng  their 
i5elds  jadicioufly,  ploughing  thew  to  a  conftderable  depth,  fowing  them  in 
the  proper  fcafun.  turning  to  advantage  every  inch  of  ground  which  can 
produce  the  raoft  inconaderable  crop,  and  preferring  to  every  other  fpecics 
cf  cnlture  that  0^ yrain,  as  bv  far  the  moft  important,  ,      ,     /• 

This  fyftem  of  culture,  the  laO.  article  excepted,  appears  to  he  the  farre 
thst  is  recommended  in  all  our  belt  authors*  "^  •^-  ;  our  common  laborers 
^^t  acciiainted  with  it  ;-but  how  much  muR  our  European  tarmers  be 
•{urprifed,  when  thty  are  inforrr.ed  that  the  Chinefe  h.ve  no  meado^^, 
natural  nor  artificial  ;  and  have  not  the  Icaft  conception  o\  falloiving, 
never  allowlnp  their  lands  the  flighteft  repofe.  ,      ,  ^ 

The  Chin?fe  laborer  would  coidider  n.eadow.  cf  every  denomination, 
sr.  lands  in  a  ftate  of  nature.  They  fow  all  their  lands  with  graw  ;  and 
rive  the  preference  to  fuch  grounds  as  we  generally  lay  out  m  ineadows  ; 
tihich  lying  low  and  being  properly  licuated  with  refped  to  water,  are 
confenuently  by  f.r  the  molt  fertile.  They  affirm  that  a  field  fown  w,  h 
grain  will  yield  as  much  p-a^.o  for  the  nourifhment  of  cattle,  as  it  would 
have  produced  o{  hay  ;  b.fides  the  additional  advantage  of  the  grain,  for 
thefuWnanceof  m.n  ;  of  which  they  can  fpare  too  in  plentiful  (eafons,  . 
UzW  portion  for  the  animal  creation.-Such  is  the  fyftecn  adhered  to  irorri 
one  ey'tremity  of  their  e<.pire  to  the  other,  I'nd  coi>firmed  by  the  experi-- 
cncecffouT  thoufand  yearp,  among  a  people  of  all  nalions  in  the  world 
Che  #9(1  aaeniive  to  their  inlerell.  ^  ^^ 


le  Pol'vre  v:a.t  the  f^JIy   and  net  the  letiji    i^} 


i)crlont   coIfeHory  of 


'.,/.  ^ants  of  the  Enftern  Seas,  n^hich  ha've  been  Jinced'Jperfed  through 
u;imfl- Indies.  Thej  ^.refrj}  dcpojtted  in  the  JjU  of  France  7/..  No- 
nee  coicernin,  the  Ufe.fM.  le  Poi.r.^fayt.  that  the  h,lh  of  exchange  f 
tbu  amiable  man,  dra^n  for  his  reimbv.rfement,  long  re^mavua  unpaid  ;and 
njucre  finally  dijcharged  during  the  odrninifiration  of  A'^r.  'lurgst.^.  f.n 
^a.'l  ii  rc!u!cd  upon  memory.     E-. 

i  \ 


APPENDIX.  xa 

**  A  Chfncfe  laborer  cculd  not  but  fmile,  if  you  informed 
him  that  the  earth  has  occafiin  k)rrepofeat  a  certain  fixed  period  cf 
time. — The  Chinefe  lands  in  general  are  not  fuperior  to  ours :  Ycu  fee 
there  a?  with  us,  fome  excel  lent  grounds,  others  nriiddling,  the  reft  bad  ; 
fome  foils  (Irong,  others  light  ;  lands  where  clay,  and  lands  where  fand, 
gravel,  and  flints  every  where  predominate.  All  thefe  grounds  even  in  ' 
the  northern  provinces,  yield  annually  two  crops  ;  and  in  thofe  towards 
the  fouthj'five  in  two  years;  without  one  fingle  fallow  feafon,  during  ihs 
ihoufands  of  years  that  they  have  been  converted  to  the  ufes  of  agricul- 
ture.—The  Chinefe  ofe  the  fame  manures  as  we  do,  in  order  to  reftore  t3 
their  grounds  thofe  falts  and  juices  which  an  unremitting  produftion  is 
perpetually  confuining.  They  are  acquainted  with  marl  :  they  en:iploy 
alfo  coraiTiOn  fait,  lime,  afhes,  and  all  forts  of  animal  dung,  but  above  all 
that  [namely  human]  which  we  throw  into  our  rivers  :  they  make  great 
ofe  of  urine,  which  is  carefully  preferved  in  evt^iy  houfe  and  fold  to  the  beS: 
advantage  :  in  a  word,  every  thing  produced  by  the  earth  is  rcconveyed 
to  it  with  the  greateft  care  into  whatever  (hape  the  operations  of  nature  or 
art  may  have  transformed  if.  ■  When  their  manures  are  at  any  time  fcarc?, 
they  fupply  the  deficisncy  by  tutning  up  the  ground  with  the  fpade  to  a 
great  depth  ;  which  brings  up  to  the  furface  *  *  a  new  foil,  enriched  wlih 
she  juices  of  that  which  defcends  in  its  roomf . 

Without  ixeidows,  the  Chinefe  maintain  a  number  of  horfes,  buSalofj, 
and  other  aninals  of  every  fpecies  for  labor,  for  fuftenance,  and  for  ma- 
nure. Thefe  animals  are  fed  fome  with  ftraw  ;  others  with  roots,  bean^, 
and  grain  of  every  kind.  *  *  * 

The  tDoU  reeky  hjil?,  which  in  France  and  other  places  they  turn  in- 
to vineyards  or  totally  negled,  are  there  compelled  by  dint  of  induRry  io 
produce  grain.  The  Chmcfcare  acqaainred  indeed  with  the  vine,  whica 
here  and  there  they  plant  in  arbors ;  but  they  *  *  would  imagioG  it  a  fia 
againft  humanity  to  enc'eavcr  to  procure  by  cultivation  an  agreeable  li* 
qjor,  whiift  from  the  want  of  that  grain  which  this  vineyard  might  have 
produced,  fome  individual  perhaps  might  be  in  danger  of  perifhing  with 
hunger. 

The  fteepell  mountains  even  are  rendered  accefUlIe.  At  Csntcn  and 
froni  one  extremity  of  the  empire  to  another,  you  obferve  mountains  cus 
info  terraces  j  reprefenting  at  a  diftance  iramenfe  pyramids  divided  into 
dilTerent  ^--igts,  which  feem  to  reai  their  heads  to  heaven.  Every  one  oi 
thsfe  terraces  yields  anni:aily  a  crop  of  fome  kind  of  grain,  even  of  rice  ; 
and  you  cannot  with-hold  your  admiration,  when  you  behold  the  water  of 
the  river,  the  caaa],  or  the  fountain,  which  glides  by  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
lainj  raifed  from  terrace  to  terrace  even  to  the  fumn>it,  by  means  of  a  fun- 
pie  portable  raachii^e  which  two  men  vviih  eafe,  tiaaSoQii  and  put  iii  mQ" 
lion,  *  *  *  '9^ 

The 

i  This  ii  like  the  method  Jo  much  talked  of  in  ths  Enghjh  Mofeum  Rufli- 
<um,  to  cure  the  **  fubfidence  of  chalk,"  or  the  drfc^nt  biiovj  t!;e  J:r/a<t 
»f  'hi  partidss  ofchs(k  sm^lojed far  maums^      E^ 


3fcU  /.     1     ?    E    U    1j    1.  X, 

The  Chlcde  naticn  is  capaLIe  of  the  moll  ftupendous  worki.  ir. 
point  of  labor  I  oever  obferved  their  equals  in  the  woiU.  Every  day  i  i 
ihc  year  is  a  working  day;  except  the  firft,  deftineJ  for  paying  re- 
ciprocal vifics  ;  and  the  laft,  which  is  confecrated  lo  the  ceremoniai 
duties  they  pay  to  tl>eir  anceftors.  An  idile  rnan  would  be  treat- 
ed with  the  moft  fovcrcigti  cente.Tpt,  and  regarde*!  as  a  paralytic 
n.eBtber.  *  *  *  An  ancient  Emperor  of-China,  in  a  public  inftrudion  ex- 
horting the  people  tolabor,  obferved  that  if  in  one  corner  of  ine  empire 
there  was  a  man  who  did  noth'>ng>  there  muft  in  another  quarter  be  fome  ons 
deprived  of  the  necelTaiies  of  l,h.  This  wife  noaxim  is  fixed  in  the  brcaft 
of  every  Chirefe  j  and  with  this  people  fo  open  to  reafon,  he  vi^ho  pro. 
liounces  a  wife  oiaxinm  pronounces  a  law,  .  »  , 

From  thefe  obfervations  u  is  obvious  that  agriculture  flourifhes  in  Chi- 
na mcT!;  than  in  sny  other  country  in  the  world.  Yet  it  is  not  lo  any  pro- 
cefs  peculiar  to  their  labor,  it  Is  not  to  ihe  (nrm  of  their  plough,  or  their 
method  of  fjwiag,  that  this  happy  ftt  ;e  and  the  plenty  confcquent  on  it  i  ^ 
to  be  attributed.  It  iKuft  chiefly  be  derived  froo)  their  mode  of  governinet)i. 
the  immoveab4e  fi>nndations  of  which  have  been  laid  deep  by  !he  haad  i  ' 
reafon  alone,  coeval  almoft  with  the  beginning  of  time;  and  from  iheis 
J;iws,  dilated  by  nature  to  the  firft  of  the  human  race  and  facrcdly  pre- 
ferved  from  generation  to  generation,  engraved  in  the  hearts  of  a  grg^' 
people. [Sec  M.  le  Foivre's  woik  as  above  1 


F    I    N    I 


